^^ti^^sK^K 






EDGE 





PAUL J. BARRINGTON, M. D. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 



COMMON SENSE PRESCRIPTIONS AND 
PRACTICAL INFORMATION. 



A SYSTEMATIC TREATMENT IN THE DOMESTIC PRACTICE OF 
MEDICINE. 




v« 



By PAUL J. BARRINGTON, M. D. k CO, 



SOLD BY THE AUTHOR AND HIS AGENTS ONLY. 

. 

: 



CHICAGO: 
OTTAWAY & COMPANY, PRINTERS, 

54 & 56 Franklin Street. 
1881. 















Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1881, 

By PAUL J. BARRINGTON, M. D. & CO., 

in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 

All rights reserved. 



This Book is Dedicated 
To our much-loved and esteemed Friend and Brother^ 
Z. W. BINGHAM, M. D. , 



PREFACE. 



The object of placing this volume (as its title 
indicates) before the public and non-professional 
class of people, is to furnish them with a few use- 
ful hints and suggestions for those who are sick as 
well as those who care for the sick. 

In the practice of over twenty years by the bed- 
side of the sick and unfortunate, we have long since 
felt impressed with the necessity of a more practi- 
cal work that may be placed in the hands of all — 
a book of useful knowledge, stripped of all techni- 
calities, clothed with the plainest common-sense 
language, which contains the most practical and 
useful information upon all subjects pertaining to 
the physical well-being of all — from infancy to old 
age— as the general knowledge they impart, the 
instructions they give for the preservation of health, 
comfort and happiness, are worth more than all 
the strong medicines in the world. This book 
is not intended to take the place of a physician, 
when one is really needed. Oh, no! 'but more 
especially to instruct you to know and do many 
things that are highly necessary for you as well as 
the physician, together with other useful informa- 

(3) 



4 PREFACE. 

tion, such as we feel will be highly prized in every 
home. In order to satisfy the demands of all pro- 
gressive minds of the present day, in regard to 
their choice in the many schools of medical prac- 
tice, we have combined the homoeopathic system 
of medication, which has within the last few years 
become so successful and popular, together with 
some of the most important remedies that are 
known in medical science up to the present day. 

By the Author. 



INTRODUCTION. 



In giving the homoeopathic treatment, it is our 
desire to be concise, and not give remedies enough 
to confuse the mind in choosing from the many, 
which we think has been a great error in the pro- 
fession. Our object is to shorten the list, and 
choose the best remedies for the various diseases 
of which we will speak, making it more practical and 
admissible to every household. Careful study for 
years has been the means of developing these 
thoughts, together with the practical experience in 
life, drawn from the bedside of the sick and afflicted ; 
from the palace to the hovel in consultation with 
some of the leading physicians of the present day; 
in fact; from all phases of life. Therefore, it is our 
wish to be as brief and simple as possible in aiding 
humanity; trying to encourage and assist them to 
acquire and maintain a thorough knowledge of 
their entire physical body, and the laws that gov- 
ern — fully understanding if these sacred laws are 
violated the physical must suifer. With this 
knowledge put into practice the whole system may 
be kept in a healthy condition and all the complex 
machinery brought into active play, and the results 

(5) 



6 INTRODUCTION. 

can only produce a appy influence with those 
they come in contact, while a deseased body can- 
not contain a happy, contented spirit — hence, the 
great need of more light in this direction. 

The remedies in this department will be chosen 
from the active principle of each drug. Our rem- 
edies are procured only from the leading homoeo- 
pathic pharmacies of large cities: H. C. Luytus, 
No. 306 North Fifth Street, St. Louis, Mo. ; Boer- 
ick & Tafel, No. 35 Clark Street, Chicago, 111.; also 
Gross & Delbridge, No. 48 Madison Street, Chi- 
cago, 111. These are good reliable firms. If there 
should be a homoeopathic physician in your vicin- 
ity all necessary remedies can be obtained from 
him. In ordering medicine you should be careful 
and state distinctly what you wish; whether it be 
Mother Tincture or the decimal dilutions. Per- 
haps an explanation in regard to the attenuations 
may be necessary in order for you to understand 
our method of administering medicines. The 
name and strength are usually labeled on the vial. 
Below we will give a short description of the 
marked characters that will enable you to choose 
what strength may be called for, in certain cases: 
"When you see a character marked thus it denotes 
full strength, or Mother Tincture, regardless of 
name, and from this all other decimal attenuations 
are made. 



INTRODUCTION. 7 

Thus: 

3.x in any drug means the third attenuation. 
6.x. " " " " sixth " 

12.x. " " " " twelfth " 

30.x. u " " " thirtieth " 

and so on, up to the five-thousandth (a point we 
have not yet been able to attain) or advocate; time 
and experience may reveal the beautiful spiritual 
action of practical truth. In ordering medicine 
you should give name and state the strength de- 
sired. For an illustration: Tincture Aconite 
one ounce; Aconite 3.x, half ounce, and so 
on the dose will be given under each disease, 
and can be referred to in the book. We prescribe 
the dilution from the fact of their being better 
understood than the triturations (or powders). 
When prepared in water it should be renewed 
every day. Neither would we advise the medi- 
cated globules for home practice, as has been done 
in the past, for we feel they are not so effectual 
unless medicated by ourselves at the time of pre- 
scribing. Many of our remedies through the book 
will be abbreviated to save time and space. Thus: 
Aeon. for Aconite. 



Bell. 


" Belladonna. 


Gels. 


" Gelseminnm. 


Bry. 


" Bryonia. 



Cal. Carb. " Calcaria Carbonica. 
Puis. " Pulsatilla, etc., etc. 



8 INTRODUCTION. 

In presenting this book to the public, it is with 
a hope that it will be accepted as a guide to the 
multitude of people throughout the land, and 
especially those in the plainer walks of life, who 
have limited opportunities of becoming acquainted 
with the latest and best method of treating them- 
selves. If we can accomplish this we shall feel 
our efforts have not been in vain; what the 
result will be, time and the readers of our book 
must decide. The motive was for the best good of 
all. Y, V, Barrington, M. D., 

Homeopathic Department* 



HOW TO NURSE THE SICK. 

We commence this book with the above to state 
plainly their qualifications and duties, for we know 
the success of the remedies applied to the sick de- 
pend almost wholly upon the nurse, and it is gen- 
erally conceded or admitted that a good nurse and 
a poor physician are more successful than a poor 
nurse and a good physician. The art of nursing is 
a natural gift and cannot be wholly acquired, yet 
it may be much improved or developed by close 
observation and study. There are many reasons 
why we have so few good nurses. 1. A nurse 
may be too young, and also too old. The first is 
apt to be thoughtless, wild and heedless; the latter 
may be deaf, stupid, or in trouble. Good nurses 
should always be able to control themselves under 
all circumstances. But no matter who the nurse 
may be, she should always enter the sick room 
with a cheerful face and a sweet smile, no matter 
how grave the case. She should be gentle, kind and 
tender; always calm, not excitable; must have a 
pleasant voice, a gentle, magnetic touch, a light, 
easy step, and a knowledge of preparing food tor 
the invalid. Such a nurse is invaluable. 

2. She should be honest both with the patient 
and the physician. 

(9) 



10 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

3. If the patient have no confidence in the 
nurse, the sick room is no place for such an indi- 
vidual ; or if the conduct be such as to lead the 
physician to think his orders have not been 
attended to, it surely is a very unpleasant place to 
occupy. But no person should employ a physician 
unless they have full confidence in his ability, after 
which they should understand his directions and 
be sure his orders are carefully and faithfully exe- 
cuted. Some nurses fancy they know far better 
what is necessary than the physician, and in order 
to carry out their plans they resort to a species of 
dishonesty. Such nurses should be entirely avoided, 
for they ought to know and understand that the 
patient must suffer and, perhaps, die from such 
treatment. 

4. A nurse should be dignified and genteel. 
Some are always in a constant giggle; the grin of 
childish levity and thoughtless noise, and roaring 
laughter should be avoided; in fact, no person 
should be allowed in a sick room who cannot mani- 
fest perfect self-control. The next quality should 
be firmness / every nurse should be resolute, but 
not rude. It is not expected that she should yield 
to every request of the patient unless it coincide 
with reason and common sense; but what she does 
should be done cheerfully and kindly, as well as 
carefully; then the patient will have confidence in 
her ability for exercising her good judgment. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 11 

5. The next thing of importance is patience.' It 
requires a very large degree, for the reason that in- 
valids are often irritable and restless, and some- 
times well persons may partake of their influence. 
Please remember this. Have you not frequently 
eluded yourself for your own impatience under cer- 
tain circumstances? We have. Then how could 
you expect it otherwise with those who are suffer- 
ing and compelled to stay in bed for weeks, per- 
haps months, and be deprived of their liberty and 
enjoyment, even walking about the house? There- 
fore it does not matter how sorely tried and worn 
out the nurse may be, it does not furnish an excuse 
for getting out of patience. A nurse should always 
possess gentleness, especially in case of a broken 
limb, painful back, or rheumatism, etc. When it 
is necessary to change the clothes great tenderness 
and gentleness should manifest itself. The inva- 
lid should always be handled with a steady hand; 
the hold that insures firmness, strength and gen- 
tleness will insure confidence in the patient and 
make him feel secure. This duty should always be 
performed with a spirit of kindness and sympathy, 
and not in a rough, uncouth manner. 

6. The most important of all is cleanliness. 
The nurse should not only be clean herself, but she 
should keep the room clean and sweet. The room 
should be well ventilated with fresh air and sun- 
light, and not from inner rooms or halls; the best 



12 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

way is to let the window down from the top; the 
air should not come directly upon the patient, but 
the room should always be kept with an even tem- 
perature (or heat). Vessels containing particles of 
food should never be allowed to remain in the 
room. Drinking water should be changed as often 
as called for, as it gathers knpurities by standing. 
With careful attention to the little things con- 
nected with the sick room, any nurse will be amply 
rewarded by the speedy recovery of her patient. 
7. Some people are too generous and indulgent 
to make good nurses; they are always overwhelmed 
in difficulties; they mean to be good, but fail by 
overdoing. She many times comes loaded down 
with good things, both hands full ; in trying to get 
up-stairs she steps on the bottom of her dress, drops 
a plate, spills the tea, or, perhaps, falls herself. 
With a great effort she manages to get up, and 
places what she has left on the tray before the 
patient. In her hurry and confusion she cuts the 
bread and butters it with a knife that has previously 
been used to cut an onion or spread a mustard plas- 
ter, and says: " Now, dear, I will go back and 
make some more tea." The patient asks for a 
drink of water before she goes. She says, " Yes, 
dear," and runs off, gets a glass brim full, puts her 
hand under the patient's head, bends his neck, and 
turns the water down on the outside, all over the 
breast and clothing. Then she wonders why in the 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 13 

world he don't drink better. In lighting the lamp 
she uses a bit of paper, then throws it on the floor 
-and stamps it out with her foot. The fire wants 
fixing; she turns on too much fuel and it spills 
over the floor; in trying to gather up the fragments 
she leaves the stove door open till the room is filled 
with smoke; in her hurry to relieve this condition, 
the braid on her dress being loose it catches on the 
chairs, and she drags them after her, making a 
fearful noise, which is very annoying to the patient. 
Her fingers are bound up with a rag tied with a 
black string, having been scalded by trying to 
pour hot water into the teapot. She forgets to give 
the medicine at the right time. The soiled dishes 
are left scattered all around the room, the food left 
standing for hours by the bedside; the bed is full 
of crumbs and seldom made up; the fire burns low 
or goes out, the ashes strewn all over the hearth. 
These things tend to annoy the patient, who be- 
comes nervous; fever returns, and he gets no sleep 
or rest during the night. Such a nurse means 
well, but fails to accomplish the desired end from 
lack of natural ability. 

Every nurse should have good judgment and full 
exercise of his or her senses. 

/Sight — To read directions, and sometimes to 
read and amuse the patient. 

Hearing — To catch the faintest whisper, to avoid 
a great effort in speaking. 



14 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Feeling — To determine the change in tempera- 
ture in the room, the heat of the body, the moist- 
ure or dryness of the skin, and to know when ap- 
plications are to be made — when they are too cold 
or too hot — to see that all drafts are avoided when 
sponging or bathing the patient. 

Smelling — To detect all effluvias or impurities 
in the room. 

Taste — To determine the seasoning of food. 

A careful exercise of all natural faculties, with a 
study of the principles of nursing, ought to make 
a competent person to care for the sick. 



EOOM FOR THE SICK. 

It is not every family that has a choice of 
rooms, but under all circumstances we must do the 
best we can. A room should be selected that is 
light and cheerful. The head of the bed should be 
placed to the north, if possible, as the currents of 
electricity in nature run from north to south. If 
the patient has fever, brain disorder, or nervous 
disease, let the room be in some quiet part of the 
house, away from the family. If it be a bone 
broken or fracture from the result of accident, 
then the patient should be near the rest of the 
family, for in such cases it is very often amuse- 
ment for the patient to watch the movements 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 15 

of the rest. Avoid a room that is exposed to any 
kind of effluvia, and have the windows so they 
can be let down at the top. The less furniture in 
the room the better, especially if the disease be in- 
fectious. Before putting the patient in the room 
see that it has been well aired, warmed and 
dried. First, light the fire and see that the chim- 
ney draws well. The best bed is a hair mattress, 
but clean straw or husks will answer very well. 
Remember that feather beds are not healthy; be- 
sides they are inconvenient, especially if the patient 
has a broken bone or fractured leg, and in wounds 
and burns — the patient is apt to sink down into 
holes. When the patient is to be changed and 
cannot get up, place him on the edge of the bed 
and roll up against him all the bed-clothes you 
intend to change, having your clean sheets and 
blankets all ready; spread them on the bed smooth 
and straight; get your patient to roll over carefully 
on the clean sheets; take off the soiled clothes, then 
spread out the other half of the clean ones. Now, 
don't you see, you have it all done nicely. If it be 
necessary to scour the room to purify it, wash it 
with hot water, first adding a few cents' worth of 
chloride of lime, or some carbolic acid. Then 
dry the room thoroughly and it is ready. 



16 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

FOOD AND DRINK FOR THE SICK. 

It will be necessary to know how to prepare cer- 
tain kinds of food which the doctor may order for 
the patient. It is well for you to understand a few 
general principles that should govern the admin- 
istration of food. First. Solid food is seldom 
admissible, especially during acute diseases of any 
kind, for the reason the stomach and digestive 
organs are not in a condition to furnish the fluids 
necessary for its comminution; hence, instead of 
digesting, it simply lies there and decomposes, 
which will give rise to irritation, and produce 
other serious complications. Second. The more 
severe the disease the more delicate and light the 
food should be. Thus, in high grades of fever 
or inflammation we should give whey, beef tea, 
extract of beef, milk punch, toast water, mut- 
ton broth, tapioca, chicken broth. Third. "When 
there is great exhaustion the food should be all 
the more concentrated, and very nutritious. Then 
give the Extract of Beef ] or beef essence, as it is 
sometimes called, chicken or mutton broth, milk 
and cream. Fourth. In fevers or inflammatory 
disease, give food at that period of the day or 
night when there is least vascular and nervous 
excitement, and never force it upon the patient if 
suffering from a high grade of fever. Fifth. Never 
give food during severe pain. Sixth. If the tongue 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. i i 

be coated yellow, with bad taste in the mouth, 
a feeling of weight and oppression in the stomach, 
it is better not to give food; or if given, should 
always be in a liquid form. Seventh. When the 
digestion is impaired and it becomes necessary to 
sustain life with food, it should be given in small 
quantities and at regular intervals, like medicine, 
every two or three hours. Eighth. In convalescing 
much care is required in keeping the patient from 
eating too much. 



EECIPES FOE COOKING. 

BEEF TEA. 

Take one pound of nice, tender steak, remove 
the fat, chop very fine, put it in a pint of cold 
water, stir, and let it soak one hour, then boil ten 
minutes, strain it and season to suit the taste of 
the patient. 

EXTRACT OF BEEF. 

Take a Scoth ale stone bottle (is the best), 
scald it out so that you know it is clean; take one 
pound of nice, tender, fat beefsteak; after remov- 
ing the fat, chop it up fine, season it with a little 
salt and pepper, put it in the bottle, cork it up 
tight, then tie the cork down so that you know 
it will not fly out with the heat and steam; place 
the bottle in a pot of water and boil it for three 
2 



18 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

hours. Remember you cannot cook it too much. 
This preparation is very rich with nutritious ele- 
ment; two tablespoonfuls at a dose for an adult is 
sufficient, repeated every two or three hours. A 
little can be poured out at a time and warmed on 
the stove as it be required. Keep the bottle well 
corked; if it is left open the extract will lose much 
of its strength, as well as its flavor. 

CHICKEN JELLY. 

Take half a raw chicken, pound it well with a 
mallet, bones and all, cover it over with cold water; 
heat it slowly in a covered vessel ; let it simmer till 
the meat is thoroughly cooked, then strain the 
liquor through a coarse cloth; season it to taste, 
return it to the stove and let it simmer ten min- 
utes longer, skim it when cool and give it to the 
patient. 

BARLEY WATER. 

Take of pearl barley two ounces, boiling water 
two quarts, boil down to one quart and strain; a 
little lemon and sugar may be added. This is a 
good drink in all inflammatory and eruptive dis- 
eases, scarlet fever, measles, small-pox, etc. 

RICE WATER. 

Take of good rice two ounces, water two quarts, 
boil one and a half hours, then add sugar and nut- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 19 

meg to suit the taste; use with milk. This is an 
excellent diet for children. 

ARROWROOT JELLY. 

One cup of boiling water, two teaspoonfuls of 
Bermuda arrowroot; wet the arrowroot in a little 
cold water and rub smooth, then stir it into hot 
water, which should be on the fire and boiling, with 
sugar already in it; stir until clear, then add one 
teaspoon ful of lemon juice; wet a cup with cold 
water and pour the jelly, and let it form. Eat with 
sugar and cream, if you like. 

BARLEY JELLY. 

Boil one quart of water, let it cool; take one- 
third of a loaf of bread (common size), slice it up, 
pare off the crust. Toast it to a light brown, 
put it in the water in a covered vessel and boil it 
gently till you find, on putting some in a spoon to 
cool, that it becomes a jelly; now strain it and 
cool; add sugar and lemon juice, or grate a little 
lemon peel as it is used. 

OATMEAL GRUEL. 

Two tablespoonfuls of oatmeal, one quart water, 
boil ten minutes and strain; salt and sugar to suit 
your taste. 

CORNMEAL GRUEL. 

Made the same way, using cornmeal instead of 
oatmeal. 



20 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

OATMEAL WATER. 

Take two ounces of oatmeal, one quart of water, 
stir up well, let stand until settled, then drink the 
water with ice in it, if you choose. This is an ex- 
cellent remedy for diarrhoea or in dysentery. 

Again. — Take milk one pint, sheep's suet three 
ounces, corn starch half an ounce, cardamon seeds 
one ounce, browned like you would coffee, then 
grind it very fine; after the other mixture is boiled 
gently for thirty minutes stir in the ground seed 
while it is yet hot; when cool it can be used as 
food and medicine. It is excellent. It will cure 
the very worst cases of dysentery or bloody flux. 
It does the work when the best of doctors fail. 

BUTTERMILK PAP. 

Take of fresh buttermilk four parts, water one 
part, mix and boil, then thicken with corn or oat- 
meal. Eat with butter and molasses. 

WINE WHEY. 

Heat a pint of new milk until it boils, at which 
moment pour in as much good wine as will curdle 
and clarify it; boil again and set aside until the 
curd subsides; pour off the whey carefully and add 
two pints of boiling water, and loaf sugar to suit 
the taste. 

ORANGE WHEY. 

Milk one pint, the juice of one orange with a 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 21 

portion of the rind; boil the milk, then add the 
orange juice; let stand till it coagulates, then 
strain. Both of the above are excellent for conva- 
lescent patients where there is weak digestion, for 
children or adults. 

VEGETABLE SOUP. 

Take one potato, one turnip, and one onion, with 
a little celery or celery seed; slice each, and boil 
one hour in a quart of water; season to taste; then 
pour the whole upon a piece of toast. 

ELM-BARK JELLY. 

Take two teaspoonfuls of finely pulverized elm- 
bark and one pint of cold water; stir until a jelly 
is formed; sweeten with loaf sugar. This is excel- 
lent for all diseases of the throat and lungs, coughs, 
colds, etc. It is very nutritious. 

FLAX-SEED LEMONADE OR COUGH SYRUP. 

Four tablespoonfuls of whole flax-seed, half an 
ounce horehound herb, one quart boiling water; 
let steep for three hours in a covered vessel, and 
strain the juice from three roasted onions and two 
lemons; tincture of lobelia and ipecacuanha, of 
each three drachms; add sugar to sweeten; if too 
thick, add a little water. Partake of it freely; it 
is excellent for colds, coughs, throat or lung, as 
well as kidney trouble. 



22 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

MILK PUNCH. 

Take two fresh eggs, two tablespoonfuls loaf 
sugar; beat well together on a plate; add one pint 
of new milk, nutmeg and good brandy or whisky 
to flavor it well. This is par excellence in low 
grades of fever for children or adults. Change oc- 
casionally with the Extract of Beef, and the (see page 
17) patient will live on them for days and weeks. 



EATING. 



The brain is interested in the process of diges- 
tion. If it be excited or over-taxed, or even vexed, 
it will not stimulate the stomach to work till it is 
rested. Never eat when you are mad, fatigued, or 
exhausted. Drink a little gruel if you are very 
hungry, then wait till you are rested before you 
take a full meal. Always give the stomach time 
to rest between meals. Always eat regularly. Fre- 
quent eating, as well as too frequent nursing of 
children, soon weakens the stomach and liver, and 
brings on dyspepsia and other kinds of disease. 

Eat slowly. — Rapid eating, and drinking while 
eating, is the curse of this nation. It produces 
palpitation of the heart, vertigo, headache, neural- 
gia, nervous debility, spinal irritation, rheumatism, 
premature old age. Chew your food thoroughly, 
drink but little while eating, take plenty of time 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 23 

— thirty minutes at each meal. Remember that 
stomach bitters will not chew your food for you. 
You are better off without such stuff. 

Common lamentation. — " What is the cry of our 
fast-going people ? 'My food does not digest;' this 
is the saying all over* America. ' My poor head 
aches half the time;' so exclaim our young ladies. 
4 My lungs are the best part of me, but my liver is 
diseased and torpid.' This is a popular complaint. 
'And my bowels slow and sluggish.' Such mis- 
erable lamentations ascend from all the most fer- 
tile portions of this glorious continent. But we 
feel glad there is an awakening in the direction of 
physiological knowledge and universal improve- 
ment, and the final triumph will surely be: The 
triumphant conquest of individual man over all 
enemies to his bodily ease and mental tranquility. 

" Is it not worthy of particular notice that the 
majority of people who, as invalids, incessantly 
complain in the department of digestion, are the 
most 'constant violators of physiological law? If 
any person should flatter him or herself that he 
or she can* go on violating the conditions of Health, 
and at the same time, by simply yielding to 
the self-restoring mercies of his spiritual consti- 
tution, recover all his original vigor and bloom, 
his disappointment will be complete. Mother 
Nature is as loving and as just as Father God; but 
they do not, because they cannot, guarantee im- 



24 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

punityfrom the effects of violation. All the med- 
ical isms, myths and pathies from Hippocrates 
down to the last nostram cannot perform the par- 
doning act. There is no infallible remedy, so you 
might as well pass the word all around the world 
— there is no specific for any human transgression. 
Let every eye read it, let every ear hear it, and in- 
scribe it in fadeless characters upon the Temple of 
Health." — Davis. 



LUNG LIFE; OR, PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTS. 

The shortest route to health is through the lungs. 
Deprive them of heaven's invisible air, shut off the 
supply of the vivifying principle, and the whole 
beautiful machinery will immediately stop. Oxy- 
gen is universally the vehicle of heaven's divine 
breath ; these celestial elements ride straight 
through the lungs into the blood, thence to the 
great battery of all energy and digestion. The 
brain immediately distributes to each part of the 
body the principles of sensation, life and motion.. 
To obtain this point, begin gradually and practice 
deep breathing daily, and you will find that the air 
is impregnated with an electric energy which per- 
vades, refreshes, quickens and energizes every part 
of your physical temple. Remember, your food 
cannot digest, neither can your blood circulate, 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 25 

without the electric fire of the air; neither can a 
particle of food strengthen you without it. With- 
out the living energy of the air, which is obtained 
through thelun^s, no diet can be made universally 
nutritious. Salivary juice, as it pours out from 
the little springs on either side of the cheeks from 
the parotid glands, could do nothing without the 
vivifying electricity of the air. The gastric fluids 
— although loaded with its inherent pepsin and the 
acids, lactic, hydrochloric, etc., etc. — could accom- 
plish nothing without a constant supply of nerve- 
energy. The lungs must absorb the electricity of 
the measureless immensity; otherwise nothing 
strong can occur, but death and transformation 
will hasten into the temple. Hence, the great 
necessity of reformation and knowledge in regard 
to these great facts, an unfolding of liberal ideas 
from the by-gone days of superstition and dogmas; 
when the old fashioned orthodox churches were 
built and kept as tight as drums during service. 
The result of ignorance; and narrowness of their 
creeds, concerning God and man. 

In this connection we are reminded of Florence 
Nightingale, the noble nurse who voluntarily went 
to the Crimean war to bind up the bleeding sol- 
diers. She says: "An extraordinary fallacy is the 
dread of night air. What air can we breathe 
at night but night air. The choice is between 
pure night air from without and foul night air 



26 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

from within. Most people prefer the latter. 
What will they say if it is proved to be true that 
fully one-half the diseases we suffer from are oc- 
casioned by people sleeping with their windows 
shut. An open window most nights in the year 
can never hurt anyone. In great cities night 
air is the best and purest out of the twenty-four 
hours. We could better understand shutting the 
windows in towns during the day than during the 
night, for the sake of the sick; from the absence 
of smoke and dust, as well as the quietude, all tend 
to make the night air the best for aiding the sick. 
It is impossible to keep well, and have good di- 
gestion, without pure air, and plenty of it ; it 
is also impossible to think large, manly, beautiful 
and virtuous thoughts, while respiring in an 
atmosphere of stagnation and consequent corrup- 
tion. People who sleep in close, ill-ventilated 
rooms are forever dreaming monotonous dreams, 
loaded with vicious pictures, and animated by 
strangers or demons, produced from the confined 
air. Idiots breathe superficially ; they seldom 
respire like an intelligent mind. Timid persons 
inhale small quantities of air. The coward has a 
narrow chest, and he only uses the upper portion 
of his lungs. "Why does the strongest horse al- 
ways have the broadest and deepest chest? The 
mind cannot improve, morally and intellectually, 
unless the lungs be large and full, constantly and 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 27 

plentifully supplied with air. Health cannot be 
maintained in a confined atmosphere; no exalted 
thoughts, no spiritual perceptions, can manifest 
themselves. 



PROCESS OF DIGESTION. 

The Gastric Methods. The reasons in favor of 
full and intelligent respiration are numerous <and 
easily understood. Chyle is the last result of fun- 
damental digestion. But, in itself, chyle has no 
power to promote growth, give strength, or repair 
the waste of the body. It is the successor to 
chyme, which is manufactured from the food in 
the first part of digestion. It is first manufactured 
by the stomach into a pulpy mass, impregnated or 
charged with electricity of the vital kind. But 
when it passes downward into the lower stomach, 
or duodenum, the pancreatic fluids and the bile at 
once combine with it, thereby adding a 'positive 
element by which the chyme is transformed into a 
milk-white liquid (the chyle) and, with the resi- 
dum, flows steadily into and through the small 
intestines. What next? The numerous mesen- 
teric glands, with the lacteal vessels, commence 
their work of forming incipient eggs from out the 
chylic fluids; the unchylified portions (the residum) 
meantime passes onward into the large and lower 
bowels, and is then rejected, together with the 



28 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

broken-down Blood globules, in the shape of biLe 
and relative excretions. This material is wholly 
excrementitious. 

The thoracic duct, so-called, conducts the chyle 
from the lacteal passages and mesenteric glands, 
and pours it into the vein which discharges its 
contents into the positive side of the heart. 



PURIFYING- ORDEAL OF THE BLOOD. 

How is this accomplished? By means of the 
pure air of space. Yes; when heaven's devout 
breath enters the air-chambers the chyle is at once 
converted into nutritious blood, baptized to the 
multifarious necessities of the arterial system^ 
while at the same time the cold venous blood is 
unloaded of its dead burdens in the form of car- 
bonic gas and useless water. Carbon is the prin- 
cipal element of decay and death, yet is very essen- 
tial to life and a good conductor to electricity. 
Therefore, the heart very wisely and energetically 
throws both the chyle and venous blood upon the 
entire responsibility of the lungs; so that when 
the invisible air is drawn by deep breathing into 
the pulmonary structure the divine life also enters, 
whereby the chyle is changed as by magic into the 
constructive principle for the soul's good, whereby 
the newly-purified blood is re-baptized and con- 
firmed into the ways of righteousness; it hastens 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 29 

upon its mission of benevolence to all parts of the 
physical temple. Now, my dear reader, we feel 
that we have put this question in a light that you 
may understand fully the process of digestion, as 
well as the importance of lung life in health; the 
necessity of ventilation in the sick room; that you 
may better and more fully understand us when we 
speak upon the different conditions, in this book, 
How to Live, and what to do under all circum- 
stances in disease and misfortune. For you should 
remember that nearly all diseases can be traced to 
the stomach and lungs, as the first origin from 
improper air and bad digestion. 



, HOME MEDICINE CHEST. 

Every family has more or less medicine about 
the house; but usually, they are kept carelessly sit- 
ting around no place in particular. It is well to 
have a small box, with a lock on it, and always 
kept in some convenient place. It would be use- 
less for every house to keep a drug store; but 
it is well enough to keep a few reliable medi- 
cines, such as you would be likely to use in a case 
of emergency. But let me entreat you, never keep 
or buy any patent medicines, the ingredients of 
which are not known to you. There has been 
more damage produced by them than good accom- 
plished; and, for the most part, they have been 



30 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

put up by ignorant pretenders, whose sole object is 
to get your money. Keep your castor oil, sweet 
oil, a vial of laudanum, a little tincture of lobelia, 
syrup of ipecac, spirits of camphor, a bottle of 
glycerine, and a vial of syrup of rhubarb. Keep 
in your chest a roll of lint, a roll of linen, a piece 
of flannel, and some sticking plaster. Have your 
physician put up a bottle of medicine for burns and 
scalds, and have a place for it in your chest. These 
are some of the medicines every family should 
keep on hand; not too many, only those which 
you know how to use. And for obvious reasons 
they should always be kept by^ themselves where 
they could be had at a moment's notice — all well 
labeled that you may make no mistake. 



MEDICINES FOE A HAPPY HOME. 

Not only should we cultivate such tempers as 
serve to render the intercourse of home amiable 
and affectionate, but we should strive to adorn it 
with those charms which good sense, judgment 
and refinement so easily impart to it. We say 
easily, for there are persons who think a home 
cannot be made beautiful without a consid- 
erable outlay of expense in money. Such people 
are in great error. It costs but very little to have 
a neat flower garden, and to surround your dwell- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 31 

ing with those simple beauties which delight the 
eye far more than expensive objects. Nature de- 
lights in beauty; she loves to brighten the land- 
scape and make it agreeable to the eye. She hangs 
the ivy all around the ruin, as well as runs it over 
the stumps of withered trees. She twines the 
graceful vine. A thousand arts she practices to 
animate and please the mind. Follow her exam- 
ple, and do for yourself what she is always laboring 
to do for you. — Cotton. 

We are glad to make the above quotation, for it 
is not only a medical whisper, but rather a short 
sermon on love, which may prove the best remedy, 
after all, to heal many of our infirmities; the best 
medicine in our pharmacy we have, for perhaps 
you have lost the bright, fresh feelings of the soul. 

But we would add, if the writer had only made 
a more comprehensive supposition (including all 
the married throughout the world), we could reply 
affirmatively; except, of course, all such ordinary 
broils — those which are always so indispensable as 
to meet the demands of honest hunger. Let the 
already truly married still keep up the practice of 
early courtship. Don't let the principles of Har- 
monial Love and wisdom ever become old and stale, 
and die out of your hearts, for it will always sound 
sweet to be again and again told that we are loved 
and appreciated by our conjugal companion; it 
always acts upon the soul like a tonic. No matter 



32 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

how tired and vexed and worn out with the duties 
of the day, it will always stimulate you to new 
strength and vigor. And let all those who are 
about to embark upon their conjugal existence 
regulate all of their attachments, and live by 
spiritual delicacy and private truthfulness. If all 
those who chance to read this prescription will try 
it, we feel we could guarantee that such a house 
would be a natural sanctuary of heavenly blessed- 
ness. The family circle would shine and sparkle 
like a ring of diamonds, and each throbbing heart 
would be a wellspring of love, tenderness, grace 
and gladness. All good angels would go in and 
out of such a sunny home, just exactly as the 
healthy children thereof would glide to and fro on 
the swift feet of unrestrained enjoyment. 

A divine joy is certain to pavilion such a happy 
home, and one tender hand is sure to embrace all 
hearts which come within its influence, for it would 
be the very gates of heaven. 



COUKTSHIP AND MARKIAGE. 

If we would have the nuptial union last, 
Let reason be the link that holds it fast. 

Courting, as usually conducted in what is con- 
sidered the best society, is absolutely wrong. It 
places both parties in false and unnatural relations. 
It renders an actual knowledge with each other's 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 33 

inmost thoughts, feelings and desires difficult and 
unnatural. It can only be compared to a method 
of deception, in which each is trying to deceive the 
other. A young gentleman who is regarded as 
eligible, and a young lady considered of marriagea- 
ble age, always put on their best clothes, their 
sweetest smiles and most winning ways in each 
other's presence, concealing the conduct of their 
real life. They seldom see each other as they 
really are; interviews are always formal; place 
and time announced; certain preparations made 
for them, so they shall not be seen without the 
customary disguise; and then, to increase the con- 
fusion, the young lady is taught not only to act 
falsely, but lie and deceive. Mothers teach their 
daughters that men should make all the advances; 
that it would be impropper for her to intimate a 
wish or desire until marriage is proposed, when 
she has the privilege of accepting or declining; 
that it is immodest in her to express a desire in 
regard to marriage, or for her to do any part of 
the courting is unladylike, while for her to pro- 
pose to a man would be perfectly shocking. But 
no reason has ever been assigned why courting was 
not as much the right and duty of a woman as of 
a man, and no good reason ever will be given. 
There are many reasons why a woman has an 
equal right with man to choose a companion for 
life, one of which is, that she is as much of an indi- 
3 



34 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

vidual as he, and another, her peculiar intuitive na- 
ture making her more capable of deciding. But the 
strongest reason of all is the function of mater- 
nity. As a rule, women could, if allowed by 
society, select suitable husbands better than men 
can select wives. It is too true that sensible young 
girls marry very strange specimens of the opposite 
sex, who are as uncongenial as December and May. 
But what else can they do ? They have been taught 
that marriage is a necessity ; that position and 
wealth was of more importance than a love com- 
panion, and the result of such a union would be 
followed by misery and unhappiness. How wisely 
it has been said a truly mated pair in a hovel have 
no reason to envy a couple who are married but 
not mated dwelling in a palace. One of the great- 
est mistakes of the age is in separating the sexes 
in their various vocations in, life. They should 
mingle freely and familiarly (of course under the 
instruction of parents or guardians) at home, in 
the field, work-shop, at school, and in social life, 
as the association of each refines, energizes, and 
enobles the other. If this plan were adopted they 
would be free, frank and natural; each would have 
a perfect understanding of the other's true feelings 
and love making would not be done in the dark 
nor on the sly, the happiness conferred by each on 
the other being the sole occasion of love bound 
together with the strongest band of union con-, 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 35 

nected with our nature. For the benefit of the 
young we can give no better description of what a 
true companion should be than copying the fol- 
lowing poem: 

CHOOSING A WIFE. 

Enough of beauty to secure affection ; 
Enough of sprightliness to secure dejection, 
Of modest diffidence to claim protection; 
A docile mind, subservient to correction, 
Yet stored with sense, with reason and reflection, 
And every passion held in due subjection. 
And faults enough to keep her from perfection. 
When such I find, I'll make her my election. 

CHOOSING A HUSBAND. 

Of beauty, just enough to bear inspection; 
Of candor, sense and wit, a good collection; 
Enough of love for one who needs protection, 
To scorn the words: I'll keep her in subjection; 
Wisdom to keep him right in each direction ; 
Nor claim a weaker vessel's imperfection. 
Should I e'er meet with such in my connection, 
Let him propose, I'll offer no objection. 

The first consideration in those contemplating 
marriage is to study each other's temperaments, to 
learn as much as possible whether their adaptations 
of soul element will blend together sufficiently to 
produce the most complete harmony, as it is in- 
tended for a life which should bring with it perma- 
nent happiness. For the sake of offspring and the 
nation, it is vastly more important that mothers 



36' GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

should possess a more vigorous bodily constitution 
than the father, if either must be frail. But it is 
not necessary that every woman, to be a candidate 
for matrimony, should possess the precise features, 
nor the exact form, nor the full size, nor the bal- 
anced organism of the Yenus de Medici. She may 
be taller or shorter, fuller or more slender, blonde 
or brunette, etc., but she must not be contracted 
around the lower portions of the chest; she 
must not be " wasp-waisted," concaved where 
she should be round, full, and convex. Such a 
woman cannot half breathe; she can neither feel, 
think, nor act normally. She cannot love, she 
cannot judge, she cannot do as a healthy woman 
would, nor is it possible for a man to love her in 
return, however tender and kind he may treat her, 
as he could and would one who could gratify not 
only one, nor several, but all of his mental powers. 
The woman should look well into all these 
essential qualities in choosing a husband. We 
have long since advocated woman's equality, mental 
and physical, and her equal rights, domestic, social, 
civil, political and religious. We cannot conceive 
of any right or privilege as relates to the individ- 
ual, to the family circle, to society, or to govern- 
ment which man claims for himself, that woman 
may not justly claim for herself. 

Rights no more pertain to sex than they do to 
nation or race; they imhere in humanity. If wo- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 37 

man is a human being and a fellow citizen, the 
question is settled in her favor. If she is not, what 
is she? If there are any laws which appropriate 
her to man, they are man-made laws, not God- 
given. Human statutes do not always " re-enact " 
the higher law. Because in marriage the twain 
become one flesh, it no more follows that the wo- 
man is to lose her individuality in society, and 
her inherent rights before the law than the man 
should lose his. They are, indeed, one in heart, 
mind, life, purpose, but two persons nevertheless. 
These are some of our ideas upon which the only 
true basis of marriage can be entered upon with 
any degree of permanent happiness. But marriage 
of the present day is entered into altogether upon 
a different plan; it is now governed by title, wealth 
and position. And where wealth has little or no 
influence parents often interfere to an unwarranted 
extent, which many times blasts the hopes and hap- 
piness of a whole life. Now, when a marriage 
takes place the almost invariable inquiry among 
friends is, " lias she done well," which generally 
signifies, has she married a house and lot, a good 
supply of pretty furniture, or a large amount of 
bank and railroad stock, or a comfortable pile of 
money. This question is too universally regarded, 
so much so that the respondent in reply begins at 
once to tell how rich or poor the husband is. If a 
wealthy position has been obtained by the bride, 



38 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

the parents and friends congratulate themselves on 
the success of the daughter, and the unanimous ex- 
clamation is, " She has done so well." Young 
women in the highest circles often sell themselves 
to old men, double or triple their age, or are so 
sold by their parents, and do not seem to dream 
that they are bartering away their virginity and 
womanly charms for gold, the same, virtually, as 
the abandoned woman who walks the pavements of 
great cities. It is true that there may be cases 
where mutual love exists in such unequal copartner- 
ship, but they are rare exceptions. Wealth, rank, 
beauty and accomplishment are not, of course, to 
be despised — they have their value. But how con- 
temptible it is that many, not to say most, of our 
best Christian families never give the young any 
other instruction with regard to courtship and 
marriage than what may be gathered from these 
mere externals. What one party or the other 
has gained or is likely to gain of personal 
beauty or pecuniary advantage will be far more 
likely to elicit attention in almost any social circle, 
either within the family pall or beyond it. The 
wife may mean while she aspires to learn all she 
can, not from novels, but from nature and works 
calculated to enrich the mind, and, in brief, of 
every source within her reach. 

Now, is it at all unnatural that the progressive 
companion should, little by little, lose respect for 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 39 

the belittling qualities from the other? Then love 
exists with what finally develops into contempt, 
though the latter may not be unmixed with heart- 
felt pity. Just look how these people chafe each 
other continually. Can any good come of this do- 
mestic friction, which chips away as fine as iron 
filings the good temper and better qualities each 
possesses,? Everybody is painfully conscious ot 
the existence of evil, and this evil must be rooted 
out before the human family can settle down to a 
condition of peace and enjoyment. And so long 
as parents teach their children that " getting mar- 
ried" is all there is to life, they will be almost sure 
to acquire tastes, habits and manners which will 
unfit them for true soul companions. How* often 
fathers give their daughters to fine homes, not hus- 
bands. Better for them and society that they were 
forever homeless. Let girls and boys be taught to 
know themselves, care for themselves, understand 
business, and let all schools, all libraries, reading 
rooms, all avocations, with equal wages for equal 
services, be alike open to both, then there will be 
no need of providing them with wives and hus- 
bands. They will find congenial companions and 
marry, or do the next best thing, remain unmar- 
ried. Surely there is no spectacle on earth which 
so demands our respect and admiration, and which 
is so suggestive of divinity and immortality, as an 
individual who, having fulfilled all the duties ot 



40 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

this life, is yet living in his purity and ripe old 
age; one "whose eye is not dim, nor his natural 
force abated, though whitened for the grave." 
When one has lived a life in accordance with the 
laws of life, they are not only happy in themselves, 
but their influence is extended to all they come in 
contact with. A lamp to the feet of youth and a 
guide to the middle aged. And now, defir reader, 
all I ask of you is, that, with a clear mind and a 
pure heart, a love of the truth, and a willingness to 
accept it, you read these pages, and so far as the 
teachings the} 7 contain commend themselves to 
your reason, that you follow them faithfully in a 
life of purity and devotion to the highest good. 
Doubtless, many things may be contrary to your 
ideas of right. Humanity lies prone under the 
errors of ages, and what we cherish as truths are 
often the most hurtful of these errors. The only 
mischief of error is, we accept it as truth. And 
its strength is in the support of venerated au- 
thority. The miseries of mankind are but the 
symptoms of its errors of thought and life. The 
world to-day is cursed by error and discord, and it 
must be saved by truth and love, a principle of 
right and justice to all. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 41 



MOTHERHOOD. 

This is a question which nearly all writers have 
evaded as harsh, untimely, or felt that it would not 
be accepted as modest; but we feel that the time 
has come when all people should put away such 
false modesty, and deal with the real facts as they 
are, and such important facts we all should know, 
and we must meet them sooner or later, whether 
we will or not. 

Motherhood is the crowning glory of woman. 
But the ambition of the mother should be that of 
bringing the germ of able-bodied, great-hearted, 
glorious men and women, who will always be ready 
to do and dare for the sake of truth and humanity. 
The salvation of the human race all lies in the 
practical recognition of one important principle — 
one which, by future generations, if not now, in 
the light of our present science, must be pre-emi- 
nently acknowledged as an unquestionable truth, 
viz.: That she, who is the continued originator of 
the race, she, whose power and influence for weal 
or woe must be handed down through her posterity 
during all coming time, must be educated to, 
and shall be granted the inalienable, indisputable 
right to determine for herself when she can lov- 
ingly take upon herself the responsibilities of 
motherhood. The time has already come when 



42 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

the mass of our thinking people have come to see 
and know the one important, but hitherto neg- 
lected, lesson learned, that we are guilty of a hein- 
ous crime, and one which nature never pardons, 
when we will knowingly allow ourselves to become 
the instruments of bringing into existence human 
beings whose lives are a curse to the world and to 
themselves, rather than a blessing. Young men as 
well as old must be educated up to this point, to 
see the facts as they really are. 

Till within a very' short period physiology has 
formed no part of the education of parents, and the 
simplest elements of anatomy have been entirely 
unknown to mothers. Maidens have entered upon 
the possibilities of maternity without the slightest 
information regarding the structure of their bodies, 
and still less of the powers of foetal development 
and intelligent understanding of the inevitable in- 
quiries attending its arrest; and what is still more 
ludicrous, were it not so very sad, ignorant even of 
the conditions of parturition. This., we claim, is 
all wrong; besides there is no excuse for it. We 
must charge it upon an ignorant father and moth- 
erhood — motherhood not yet conscious of its high 
duties, to instruct their children at least as far as 
they know themselves^as well as to urge it upon 
their children to seek for all the knowledge upon 
these subjects that they can possibly avail them- 
selves of. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 43 

It must be clear to every thinking mind, that it 
is not probable there will be any visible decrease 
in the crime of this world till the pulpit and the 
press, as well as the law-making power, are con- 
vinced that no persuasion, or education, or even 
punishment, or statutory enactments, can ever be 
made to cure those who are organically, morally, 
mentally or physically diseased. As the unborn 
individual cannot be consulted as to the character 
of his mind or his intellectual powers, he is, there- 
fore, dependent upon the condition and the charac- 
ter, the intellectual and moral character of his im- 
mediate progenitors. Indeed, he has no more con- 
trol over his moral or mental organization than he 
has over the color of his eyes or hair. 

Our organization is made for us and not hy us. 
Our present educational and religious institutions 
have not, and cannot, prevent the commission or 
increase of crime. 

Why has not man sought out the means of de- 
veloping and perfecting the human forms of his 
children as well as he has improved the stock of 
the animal kingdom below him? We do not 
.want passionless men, but men with strong pas- 
sion, held resolutely under the check of an en- 
lightened reason and conscientious individuality. 
It is high time that marriage should be regarded 
as something higher and nobler than a mere con- 
dition granting license to the passions. Let hu- 



4i GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

man beings enter into the marriage relation for the 
sole purpose of companionship, for mutual improve- 
ment, and for the development of their own and 
each other's noblest, best traits of character. Then, 
when offspring is desired, let the prospective father 
and mother seek to combine the verv best advan- 
tages for the expression of their own and each 
others forces, so that their children shall enter 
upon their earthly career with all of those excellen- 
cies of physique and character that adorn the noblest 
specimens of man or womanhood. The children of 
such parents, conceived under such conditions, re- 
ceive, at the moment of conception, an impetus 
towards the good and the imperishable that no vi- 
cissitudes of life can ever obliterate. Such chil- 
dren will never fall into vice, but rather, as we see 
them grow up to maturity, the very sight of such 
noble specimens of men and women will be looked 
upon and considered as the protecting arms thrown 
out and around to embrace and protect the human 
race. Happy are the parents whose children love 
life and all of its opportunities. Happy are the 
children whose parents derive the greatest joy 
from their beautiful lives. 



PEEGXAXCY. 

Our object in speaking on this subject is to assist 
the mother to understand her condition and rela- 
tions to her offspring during this interesting period 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 45 

(of gestation). How she may know when concep- 
tion* has taken place. She may have reason to be- 
lieve herself pregnant when several circumstances 
combine to make it probable. First. If she has 
been exposed by sexual intercourse at the proper 
period, and the menstrual flow ceases from that 
time, followed by nausea in the morning, with un- 
natural likes and dislikes for persons and things; 
she may have sharp pain in the breasts, the areola 
around the nipple become darker, with pustule 
enlargement, perhaps difficulty in retaining her 
urine, and after a suitable time a gradual enlarge- 
ment of the abdomen, becoming visible at the third 
or fourth month. If she feel the motion of the 
foetus at and after this period, there is pretty 
strong evidence of the fact of impregnation. And 
yet all these signs may exist without any certainty. 
The most unmistakable and reliable sign is the 
foetal heart-beat (or period of quickening), which 
may be heard from the fourth to the fifth month 
by placing the stethescope upon the mother's ab- 
domen in the umbilical region. But some writers 
say, in speaking of the caution to be used in doubt- 
ful cases, never give a decided opinion until you 
have the child's head in your hand. All these 
symptoms and signs may exist from other causes, 
such as prolapsus, or other displacement of the 
uterus, ovarian trouble, irritation of the bladder, 
tumors, dropsy, etc., etc. It may be necessary to 



46 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

call a physician to decide this question, when 
strong feelings are awakened or great interest at 
stake. The happiness of the mother may depend, 
upon his or her decision ; hence the great necessity 
of a careful investigation and a modest, frank reply, 
with encouraging words to the fond, expectant 
mother that the hope and ardent desire of her life 
may be attained, the result of which will be a wel- 
come little messenger from the holy bonds of mat- 
rimony. No mother should dread this happy or- 
deal, for, if rightly consummated, it is the highest 
attainment a woman can know, and all the best 
forces of both father and mother should be con- 
centrated and put forth in this effort. The normal 
period of pregnancy is from forty to fifty weeks, or 
nine calendar months, counting from the last time 
of menstruation* The time varies according to 
the constitutional condition of the mother. If she 
be of full habit, with strong vital force, the period ot 
gestation may be prolonged; on the other hand, if 
she be weak and lack vitality, it is not unusual for 
parturition to take place before the full term ex- 
pires. There are cases on record where a six- 
months child has lived; this is rare; but seven 
months is considered the period of viability. Hence 
the great necessity of the mother understanding 
her true condition during this period, how to care 
for herself and prepare the way for an easy birth, 
as this is the next process she must encounter, and 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 47 

with a proper knowledge of the laws of life carried 
into effect by actual practice, no mother will dread 
the pain of parturition, for if these laws be strictly 
adhered to pain is unnecessary. It was not in- 
tended woman should suffer, and it is only through 
her own violation that she does. Our aim is to 
give such instruction as will enable every mother 
who reads this book to look upon childbirth with 
pleasure rather than pain, for it is a natural pro- 
cess. The conditions required to accomplish this 
we will speak of under the head of Parturition. 



PARTURITION. 

The first thing requisite is a healthy, well-devel- 
oped physical and mental condition. No woman 
should ever consent to become a mother unless 
these conditions be fully established, and no father 
should require or demand it. Conception should 
never take place without previous preparation and 
the full consent of both parents, under the best 
possible conditions. Much depends on the mother's 
influence. During the whole period her surround- 
ings should be the most pleasant, her thoughts and 
feelings harmonious. This has much to do with 
the character of her offspring, and it should be the 
father's highest duty to grant and supply all these 
conditions. The mother should have plenty of 



48 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

out-door exercise from the first, not enough to tire 
her, but enough to keep the system active; wear 
loose clothing; live on the most simple, nutritious 
food — a diet composed largely of fruit is the best. 
Greasy food and pastries should not be indulged in 
at all. The body should be bathed in tepid water, 
with a little salt added, twice a week, a sitz-bath 
once a week until within six weeks of the expected 
time, then take one every night; the water should 
be of the temperature to make it pleasant and 
agreeable. Remain in each time from eight to ten 
minutes, then dry with a towel; when this is done 
bathe the lower abdomen with oil, rubbing it well 
with the hands. This should be done by the nurse 
or some friend. This course of treatment tends to 
relax the parts, and if followed closely will ensure 
the anxious mother a short and easy birth. 



ABORTION. 



Much might be said upon this subject, as the 
causes are varied and almost inexhaustible. There- 
fore, we will endeavor to speak only of the more 
common causes and their evil effects, making it so 
plain and simple in form that all may understand 
and profit by our teachings. The whole process is 
unnatural, and always attended with more or less 
danger, liable to produce serious and lasting re- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 49 

suits, and is one of the causes that entails suffering 
on our women of to-day, bringing misery and a 
life-long suffering of that most terrible of all 
diseases, female weakness. Among the most 
common causes is sexual excess during the period 
of pregnancy, and all parents allowing themselves 
to indulge in those relations do so with great risk, 
especially if the mother be constitutionally weak 
and the father violent in his sexual manifestations. 
There is danger in great sexual excitement of pro- 
ducing expulsion of the foetus from the uterus, 
especially if it be near the period of usual menstrua- 
tion. If this occur before the sixth month of ante- 
natal life, it is called abortion; subsequent to this 
period, premature birth. No matter how it is pro- 
duced, it is always followed with more or less un- 
favorable effects upon the general health, and fre- 
quently very dangerous, when accompanied with 
hemorrhage or other complications. Other causes 
may arise, such as fright, injury, or overwork; ex- 
ertion of any kind, either mental or physical. But 
the use of drugs or instruments is the most prolific 
cause and the most unpardonable — a crime which 
will not be forgiven either in this life or the beau- 
tiful life beyond. The prevailing idea is, that no 
sin or crime is committed if it be perpetrated be- 
fore the foetus acquires vitality or individuality; 
or, in other words, the period of quickening. This 
is absurd, not the slightest physiological reason for 

A 



50 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

such an idea. From the moment of impregnation 
there is a gradual development of the life principle, 
both soul and body, and it should be remembered 
the whole period of gestation is a natural process, 
and should not be interfered with, but every part 
of it should be considered sacred, the highest aim 
in life sanctified by the holy passion of love, com- 
bined with the most exquisite sexual delight, to 
the grand, final result of the offspring being brought 
into existence, entering upon the great stage of 
active life an independent, individualized entity; 
hence the great wrong in destroying it. 



CAUSE AND CUKE OF FEMALE WEAK: 

NESS. 

What mean these peace-destroying symptoms? 
Bearing down in the lower part of the abdomen, 
heat, dull pain, burning, weakness in the small of 
the back, sore place on the spine, small of the back 
so tender to the touch, dragging, aching in the 
loins, indisposition to bodily exercise, dread of 
walking — either far or fast, feeling wearied, numb- 
ness of the limbs. Why are our married women 
so capricious of temper, so childish, at times so 
given to transition from cold sensations to hot 
flashes; then from amiableness to peevishness, and 
fretful, with scrofulous swellings? Why are our 



OEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 51 

children born with broken-down blood globules 
floating through their infant hearts? Why do 
their young bones absolutely ache with voluptuous- 
fatigue, transmitted by ignorant parents? 

Every ganglionic center is a telegraphic station; 
it receives impressions and transmits the signs and 
disturbances from point to point. Who wonders 
that our children are scrofulous, and so fond of 
sweets and stimulants? Who, that can trace the re- 
lation between one cause and another, will still 
grope around yet longer and ask the learned phy- 
sician to explain why women are sick and unfit for 
ordinary duties of housekeeping? The pricipal 
cause of woman's suffering lies in Prolapsus Uteri 
(falling of the womb), Retroversions, Antiversion, 
and all other kinds of displacement; Whites (Leu- 
corrhea), then inflammation and ulceration of the 
womb. These are the main causes which afflict 
three-fourths of the women of this country; yes, it 
is no use to attempt to disguise the fact that they 
are suffering, eking out a miserable existence, many 
of them without hope that there is any relief to be 
found for them, while many others, through false 
modesty, suffer and die in silence rather than con- 
sult a competent physician for relief; but, never- 
theless, sooner or later the truth must be told that 
the main cause of all of these reproductive diseases 
is caused originally by excessive and unrestrained 
indulgences of the animal inclinations, through 



52 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

ignorance. Neither man nor woman has com- 
prehended the primal cause of their suffering; or 
what would be still worse — those, knowing the 
truth, will further practice the ungodly habit of 
intemperate reproduction. But, if you would be 
wise and strong, you should seek advice from intel- 
ligent persons, and reading books upon these sub- 
jects. Fathers and mothers should commence 
teaching their children, as early in life as they 
could understand, all they know themselves, as well 
as to surround them with useful books to read, that 
their children should not grow up in ignorance of 
the natural laws and functions of the organs of the 
human body, and their uses, as well as know the 
consequent suffering from their abuses. This sub- 
ject is entirely too broad and deep for us to go into 
detail. This book is intended only to hint at the 
different subjects and point out the way you should 
do, and give such knowledge and treatment as 
is practicable, which will tend to relieve your im- 
mediate suffering and teach you how you can keep 
well, and prevent the suffering of others. 

First of all we must give you our opinion, based 
upon twenty years' practice with female diseases, 
that the introduction and use of all kinds of Pessa- 
ries and Uterine Supporters have proved a failure 
to cure falling of the womb. They are not only 
useless, but they have proved to be very injurious. 
Now, the treatment we propose to give you is very 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 53 

simple, but radical and positive. Every woman 
suffering from these diseases should provide her- 
self with a good soft rubber syringe — a No. 1 Davis 
or Mattson's are the best. With this instrument, 
properly used, she can cure herself of Whites 
(Leucorrhea), and many other kinds of vaginal 
irritations. 

Remedy No. 1. — Take the white of one egg, beat 
it up well on a plate; after which add a table- 
spoonful of strained honey, thoroughly amalga- 
mated; then add it to one pint of blood-warm water 
and it is ready for use. 

No. 2. — To one pint of warm water add five to 
six drops of diluted sulphuric acid; mix well; 
ready for use. 

No. 3. — One pint of warm water, one teaspoon- 
ful of baking soda added; dissolve and mix well; 
ready for use. 

No. 4. — One quart of warm water; add one 
teaspoonful of table salt; dissolve well; ready for 
use. 

No. 5. — One pint of warm water; add table- 
spoonful of ox-gall; mix; ready for use. 

Nos. 6 and 7. — Make a decoction from the plan- 
tain leaf, which grows in your door yards in great 
abundance, or a decoction from walnut leaves; 
use a quart at one time, blood warm. 

Directions for Using the same. — Where there 
is much discharge from the vagina, you should first 



54 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

cleanse the part with eastile soap-suds, injected with 
your syringe; after use Remedy No. 1, commenc- 
ing in the morning; inject slowly, that the medi- 
cine may have a chance to affect all parts of 
the vagina. At noon you can use No. 2, and at 
bedtime use No. 3, in like manner. Use these 
remedies for several days in succession, then you 
can substitute either one of the other remedies, 
and thus alternate them until you get well. In 
the meantime take the following medicine inter- 
nally; get your druggist to put it up: 

Fluid extract black cohosh „._1 drachm. 

Fluid extract chamomile _ _ 1 " 

Fluid extract of dandelion 1 ounce. 

Glycerine sufficient to make a four-ounce mixture. 
Dose. — Teaspoonful one hour after each meal. 

This treatment persisted in will cure any ordi- 
nary case. 

In cases of falling of the womb, or where there is 
a little inflammation or ulceration, it can be cured 
by the following medicine. Get your druggist to 
put it up for you: 

Glycerine 6 ounces. 

Tanic acid i£ ounce. 

Mix by a gentle heat till the acid is all dissolved. 
Take a tuft of fine cotton, about the size of a small 
hulled walnut; after tucking the fringed edges 
over to the center, take four stitches through the 
tuft of cotton with a strong patent thread; soak 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 55 

this tuft of cotton in the glycerine and tannin med- 
icine. Just before going to bed, let some lady 
friend insert the cotton in the vagina as far as she 
can push it with the finger, leaving three or four 
inches of the thread hanging outside; let it remain 
until ten or eleven o'clock next day, then by the 
thread you can remove it. Then inject a little 
warm soap-suds, and cleanse the parts. This tanic 
acid mixture will stain your sheets or clothes; bet- 
ter prepare for it. This treatment, with the cotton 
tuft and glycerine medicine, can be kept up every 
evening, or every other day, or third day, as the 
nature of the case demands; from five to six appli- 
cations are generally sufficient to effect a cure, by 
keeping up the other washes and injections be- 
tween times. 

This method of treatment and handling these 
diseases is simple and harmless, and perfectly re- 
liable. The author has had no occasion to use any 
other remedies for many years. However, we 
might add, when there is much irritation, smart- 
ing or burning sensation in the walls of the vagina, 
it can soon be healed and cured, by beating 
the white of one egg, and add to a pint of warm 
water, to be used as an injection in place of one of 
the others. 



56 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

HOMCEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

This dreaded disease that so many of our women 
are troubled with, requires close attention. Much 
depends on the dress, diet, etc.; in fact, all their 
habits of life. The clothing should be loose, hang- 
ing from the shoulders ; the feet kept dry and 
warm ; elastics should not be worn around the leg, 
the stockings should be supported from the waist, 
leaving room for free circulation to all parts of the 
body. The diet should be plain and nutritious, 
spices and greasy food should be avoided; fruit 
and grains should be generally indulged in; plenty 
of fresh air (which is nature's best remedy), and a 
salt-water bath twice a week; exercise enough to 
keep the system in action; with a happy, contented 
mind, and the addition of a few simple remedies, 
we think much of the suffering may be overcome. 
We fully agree with the above treatment in regard 
to dispensing with pessaries and supporters; they 
only prevent nature from doing its work instead of 
assisting it. For an external wash we will pre- 
scribe the Fluid Extract of Hydrastis ; teaspoonful 
to a pint of tepid water; use as an injection twice a 
day. We also recommend the use of the tampon 
(or cotton tuft), after removing it take an injection 
of warm salt and water to cleanse the parts. Tea- 
spoonful of salt to a pint of water. 

Bell. 3.x. — Indication: Bearing down pains, as 



OEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 57 

if uterus would issue forth; profuse leu corrhea with 
severe headache, constipation or diarrhoea. 

Calc. carb. 3.x. — Indication: Leucorrhea, with 
►milk-like discharge during micturition (or urinat- 
ing) too early and too profuse menstruation ; walking 
produces great fatigue. Scrofulous diathesis. Ten 
drops of each in half tumbler of water. Dose, tea- 
spoonful, alternate every hour. 

Igna. 12.x. — Indication : Violent labor-like 
pains, with pressing in the region of the womb. 
Weak, empty feeling of the stomach. She seems 
full of suppressed grief. Difficult stool. Alternate 
this remedy withPuls. 3.x. Ten drops to half tum- 
bler of water. Dose, teaspoonful every hour. 

Sabina. 6.x. — Indications: Painful, active con- 
gestion of the uterus; thin yellowish leucorrhea; 
either .suppression or profuse menstruation (in 
sluggish circulation it acts as a tonic); severe itch- 
ing in the vagina, with drawing pains in the small 
of the back. Fifteen drops in half glass of water. 
Dose, teaspoonful every one, two, or three hours, 
as the case may require. 

The Hypophosphite of Lime is an excellent 
uterine regulator, taken as a constitutional remedy, 
especially where profuse perspiration manifests it- 
self iii the axilla, groin, hands and feet. This rem- 
edy can be had at any drug store. The dose of the 
crude drug should be from one to three grains, 
two or three times per day; dissolve in water. 



58 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

MENORRHAGIA (Profuse Menstruation). 

This form of disease is characterized by profuse, 
prolonged, or too frequent menstruation, especially 
if it be accompanied by headache, hot skin, full 
pulse, weight in the back, hips, loins, and pelvis; 
the patient becomes bloodless and weak. 

Cause. — It is occasioned by confinement to hot 
rooms, abortion, leucorrhea (whites), also excessive 
venery, long walks, and constipation. Exhaustion 
follows the least exercise. 

Treatment. — Locally, injection of a decoction 
of the plantain leaf, alternated with golden seal 
(Hydrastis canad.), or a little salt and water; if 
the hemorrhage is very active, then a strong decoc- 
tion of tannic acid, or, what is still better, a decoc- 
tion from the bark of the red oak. 

Internally, give the following: 

Fluid extract of chamomilla, 

Fluid extract of ergot, 

Fluid extract of sweet bugle weed (lycopus), of 
each half a drachm ; 

Glycerine, four ounces. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful every two or three hours, as tne 
case requires, and as improvement is noted prolong 
the intervals, and when the flow entirely ceases stop 
the medicine till the next period comes around; 
the local treatment should be kept up every day 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 59 

till the diseased condition is healed, after which 
the patient should have a tonic treatment to build 
up the lost physical forces. The following is 
called for: 

Tonic Prescription. — Fluid extract of the tag 
alder (Alnus rubra), 

Fluid extract of wahoo (Euonyrnus), 

Fluid extract columbo root (Frasera car), of each 
half an ounce; 

Carbonate of iron; 

Hypophosphate of lime, of each one drachm; 

Table salt, half a drachm; 

Good sherry wine (or California angelica wine) 
and syrup of wild cherry, equal parts, sufficient to 
make an eight-ounce mixture. 

,Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful one hour after each meal, and 
on going to bed. We consider this one of the best 
general tonic medicines that was ever given in such 
cases. You can get your druggist to put it up 
for you. 

These tinctures can always be had at the homoe- 
opathic pharmacies of a better qualitj^ than at any 
other drug store; but you must always call for 
the mother tincture. 



60 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

HOMCEOPATHIO TEEATMENT. 

This condition should be followed by the same 
treatment spoken of under the title of female weak- 
ness. The general health looked after; then take 
internally the following remedies: 

Bell. 3.x. — Indication : Profuse discharge of 
light red blood; flushed face, red eyes; full, bound- 
ing pulse, nausea, with rumbling in the abdomen; 
great weight from above downward; tremor all 
over the body; painful pressure over the sexual 
organs; pain in the back as if it would break; yawn- 
ing, twitching and convulsive jer kings of the arms 
and fingers. 

Cim. 2.x. — Indications: Discharge profuse, dark 
and coagulated, accompanied with heavy, pressing- 
down labor-like pain; nervousness, hysteric spasm, 
pains like those of rheumatism in the back and 
limbs. Ten drops of each remedy in a half glass 
of water. Dose, teaspoonful alternate every hour; 
continue until flooding ceases. 

Apo. Can. 12.x. — Indication: Profuse menses, 
lasting from eight to ten days, with violent press- 
ing pains; efforts to vomit; great prostration and 
trembling of the whole body, preceded for a few 
days by a moderate discharge; shreds or pieces of 
membrane come away with the blood; faint feel- 
ing; palpitation whenever she attempts to move; 
pulse feeble and quick. Ten drops in third of a 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 61 

glass of water. Dose, teaspoonful every one or 
two hours, as the case calls for. 

Ustilago. Maidis. 3.x. — Indication: Copious hem- 
orrhage during menses, with great restlessness and 
pain; chronic uterine hemorrhages and passive con- 
gestion. Slow and persistent oozing of dark blood 
with small clots. Fifteen drops in half glass 
water. Dose, teaspoonful every one or two hours, 
as the case requires. 

DYSMENORRHEA (Fainful Menstruation). 

Painful menstruation occurs mostly in single 
women. 

Symptoms. — Restlessness, flushed face, pain in 
the head, back, and region of the pelvis, sometimes 
so severe that it will cause fainting; after a time 
the pain will become more bearing down, accom- 
panied by shreddy mucous discharges and clots of 
blood. In young and plethoric persons there is 
but little effect upon the general health, but in very 
nervous persons the health soon fails, and they fre- 
quently run into consumption. 

Remedies. — When it is thought to be persistent 
painful suppression, it is generally pretty certain 
that it is from an inflammation of the womb. Then 
the injections are called for, and the local treat- 
ment, as described on pages 53 and 56, under the 
article on " Cause and Cure of Female Weakness/' 



62 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

The use of mild cathartics is necessary to keep 
the bowels open and free, and the patient should 
take the following prescription : 

Tincture of gelsemium, 

Tincture of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), 

Tincture of wild yam (Dioscorea villo), of each 
half a drachm; 

Glycerine, four ounces. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful every three hours. 

HOMOEOPATHIC TKEATMENT. 

First. Think of hygienic diet, perfect rest during 
the flow, elevate the foot of the bed; acid drinks, if 
desired; teaspoonful of salt to glass of water, 
patient sip frequently. 

Local Treatment. — Be sure the rectum is evac- 
uated if you have to use an enema (or injection); 
hot applications on the abdomen, either water and 
vinegar or alum and water; take hot sitz-bath every 
night until relieved. Take either of the following 
remedies, or alternate them; use the 3.x, and pre- 
pare in the usual way: Arsen., Bell., Cal. carb., 
China, Ferrum, Sepia, Cham., Hyos., Phos. Acid, 
Sabina, Lach., Sang. Either of these remedies is 
called for in all cases of this kind, and will relieve 
if persevered in. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 63 

SUPPRESSION OF MONTHLY PERIOD. 
(Amenorrhea). 

This may occur in three forms: First, where the 
menses have never occurred; second, retention; 
third, cessation. 

There are cases where the secretions have been 
perfect, but the discharge prevented by occlusion 
of the vagina, or imperfect hymen, etc. Again, the 
secretions may never have occurred, owing to a 
congenital deficiency of the ovaries. And there 
are other cases where the uterus and ovaries are 
sound, yet no flow from the vagina. The most 
common variety is when it ceases by degrees, as in 
consumptive and scrofulous patients; or it may 
occur as the result of cold, which induces inflam- 
mation of the uterus and ovaries. It may also be 
induced by excessive venery, or wet feet, ice-water, 
insufficient clothing, bathing, fear, grief, anxiety, 
falls, copulation during flow, or pregnancy. 

Symptoms. — Weight, pain in the head, loins and 
uterine region; hot skin, in some cases various 
hemorrhages, palpitation of the heart, chilliness, 
loss of appetite, etc. 

Treatment. — Give hot alcohol baths, hot foot 
baths, if the suppression be recent; apply hot mus- 
tard poultices to the feet. Internally, give tansy 
or wintergreen teas. Keep the patient warm; get 
her into a sweat; allow but little exercise; give a 



64 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

hot sitz-bath, so as to concentrate the blood in the 
pelvis, putting the feet in a hot bath at the same 
time. Keep up this treatment for a few days, and 
all will be well. 



HOMCEOPATHIC TKEATMENT. 

Suppression of Menses. — This is the most com- 
mon form of amenorrhea; the menses, perhaps, 
may have appeared regularly for a short time, and 
become prematurely arrested while the flow is on. 
This is often the case; it may be caused from men- 
tal shock or some acute disease, exposure to damp 
weather; in other cases it ceases gradually, the flow 
appearing at the proper time, but becoming less 
and less each time, then disappearing entirely. 
Some constitutional disturbance is always the 
cause. The gradual falling off and then disappear- 
ing totally is the most serious, for it depends 
usually upon anemia, phthisis, Chlorsios, etc., etc. 
However, care should be taken in the diagnosis, 
so as not to mistake it for pregnancy. 

The best remedies to meet these conditions are: 
1. Asclep., Cal. carb., Cimicif., Helan., Puis., 
Sep., Sulph. sil., Arsen. These remedies may be 
taken separately or in alternation, if desired. Use 
the 3.x. Prepare in the usual way. Dose the 
same. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 65 

CESSATION OF THE MENSES. 

This condition usually occurs between the ages 
of forty and fifty— sometimes later, sometimes 
earlier. The courses become irregular, staying 
away two or three months, then commencing with 
a perfect flood; then again coming scantily, just a 
show, with sometimes nausea and vomiting, bloat- 
ing of the abdomen, tenderness of the breasts, etc., 
are the common symptoms. Pregnancy may 
sometimes be suspected, for there is frequent uter- 
ine pain, dragging-down pains in the back and 
loins, violent headache, sometimes vertigo, coated 
tongue and disordered stomach. 

Treatment. — If the symptoms are light and this 
change is expected, keep the body in good condi- 
tion by strict attention to hygiene, bathing and 
rubbing the body well three or four times a week. 
If the pains are in the lower part of the bowels 
occasionally wear a pack saturated with equal 
parts of whisky and water, with a little salt added. 
Internal treatment: Take eight or ten drops of the 
fluid extract of black cohosh three or four times a 
day. If the patient be weak and debilitated in 
general health, then the tonic medicine that we 
gave you in the other chapter is called for; in fact, 
every indication must be met in the constitutional 
symptoms. 



6G GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

HOMOEOPATHIC TKEATMENT. 

This is the most critical period of woman's life, 
and great care should be manifested in regard to 
her condition; if the general health be kept up the 
change will come and pass off with but little 
trouble; but if neglected, sorrow and suffering will 
be the result. A woman properly treated during 
this period should be as strong and vigorous as 
when a young girl. This can be done easily by a 
careful study of the laws of life and health. We 
will give a short list of remedies that will assist 
nature to do her work: Lach. 12.x. is the best 
remedy we have for hot flushes, 10 drops in half 
a glass of water. Dose, teaspoonful every one or 
two hours. Alternate this with Puis., prepared the 
same. Gels., Cal. carb., Ignitia., Bell, are also good 
remedies. Glonoin 3.x. Where congestion to the 
head in plethoric females, when the menses stop, 
fullness in the head, with or without redness in the 
face, throbbing in the head or pulsating pains, be- 
fore, during, and after menses, or when the menses 
do not show themselves, 10 drops in half a glass of 
water. Dose, teaspoonful every hour. 



MAXIMS. 



1. Never eat a late supper and go to bed with a 
full stomach. 

2. Never sleep with your hands over your head. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 67 

It impedes the circulation, and will produce heart 
disease. 

3. Never bathe the head with cold water \ out hot. 
for all diseases of the brain. 

4. Human magnetism, the life principle, may 
be imparted from one to another, and is a very- 
potent medicine in all diseases. 

5. Sorrow, grief, fear or any other extraordinary 
emotion, will cause disease. So to be well you 
must be cheerful, and wear a pleasant countenance. 

6. Never allow a child to sleep with an adult. 
There is an invisible magnetic atmosphere of sym- 
pathy emanating from and subsisting between in- 
dividuals, which, if youth and maturity are brought 
into close conjunction, will always result in perma- 
nent injury to the youngest organization. It is a 
well ascertained fact that the aged will attract vigor 
and youthfulness from the young, therefore disease 
will always draw strength from the healthy, should 
the two continue to sleep together. 

7. Never sleep upon any description of feathers, 
for they impart no life-giving element; but will 
always draw from you many of the atmospherical 
energies which emanate from and surround you at 
all times, and you will always rise in the morning 
tired and weary, without knowing that it was the 
feathers which had exhausted all your vital strength. 

8. Never permit a sick and feverish person to 
wear the same garment, or repose between the same 



68 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

sheets, longer than two days, because the positive 
disease of the patient, during the fever, is always 
absorbed by the contagious substances of the body. 

9. You should never frighten, deceive or tell a 
lie to your child, because it is unnatural, besides 
very wicked. 

10. Never love your child unrighteously. That 
is to say, never permit your love to smother your 
judgment nor blind the voice of reason, for you 
must know that sympathy (or love) is only ser- 
viceable when wisely bestowed. 

11. It is more easy to manage and educate a 
child before its birth than it ever will be subsequent 
to that event, because the individualism is moulded, 
and consequently manufactured, more or less per- 
fect in the mother's womb, because birth is before 
thinking, 

12. Never make your child feel you to be its 
master, nor its inferior or superior, but an honor- 
able associate. You should always substitute ex- 
amples, truth and association for deception and 
lies, in your so-called family government. 

13. You must learn to will and act, ere the 
child comes to live among you, as you would have 
the child will and act before the world. 

14. The unborn child is a mirror, which will 
faithfully reflect all the wickedness and imperfec- 
tions, or the goodness and righteousness, of its im- 
mediate progenitors. The era is nigh when all 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 69 

the hidden vices, as well as the secret transgres- 
sions of both the ignorant and educated parents 
will be recognized and read in the face, form and 
character of their offspring. — Davis. 

15. All nature, including human nature, is gov- 
erned by immutable law. 

16. All variation of character, physical and men- 
tal, takes place in foetal life. 

17. The compass and tone of each individual is 
absolutely decided before birth. 

18. A marriage may be very imperfect, and the 
parties to it very imperfect characters, yet, through 
the influence of happily elevating conditions sur- 
rounding, and, as it were, pressing in on the mother, 
the children will be superior to both parents. 

19. Education may modify, but never overrule, 
inherited defects. 

20. Learn your child to do your will, and never 
decide without just foundation; or, should you 
hastily decide, never alter your decision without 
first explaining, to the comprehension of your 
child, your reason or reasons for so doing. But it 
is far better to have your child have perfect confi- 
dence in vour wisdom. 



CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT, 



A WORD ABOUT BABIES. 

No house is complete without a baby; it is the 
well-spring of happiness. The young husband 
steps about with a dignified air, carries his head 
higher than ever before; he feels proud. Why 
shouldn't he? He is proud of the title of " father," 
and the fond wife looks and smiles through her 
tears, feeling and knowing that at last she has be- 
come a mother. Of course baby looks like papa, 
except its hair and eyes, they resemble its mother's, 
but no matter, it is a sweet little messenger, and 
the angel of the household. Next comes the 
query, What shall be done with it? Well, we 
will try and tell you, but first we must tell you 
what has too often been done. After being washed, 
its head must be rubbed with some spirits, then a 
cap is put on, then rough flannel next its little 
body, after this a host of unnecessary clothing to 
incumber it; then it must take a little something, 
for the little darling must be hungry — so a little 
whisky, salt and molasses are mixed and poured 
down its delicate little throat; next it must have 
physic — a little castor oil is given, then a little 

(70) 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 71 

baby-soup is mixed up and given, then it is put in 
bed to sleep. But, alas! it does not sleep, for here 
is where the music begins; the baby cries and 
frets, and no one in the house gets any peace. 

But, surely, something must be done. I do 
wonder what ails it. Surely, it must be sick, 
says one; the child has colic, says another; then 
a dose of paregoric is given, in a few moments 
a dose of soothing syrup is poured down it, and 
baby swoons away under the influence of the nar- 
cotic poison it has taken; then the doctor is called. 
When he arrives he finds it in a fit that has been 
brought on by interfering with nature. All this 
is bitterly cruel, yes, an outrage; of course it was 
not done intentionally, but ignorance will not 
help the baby. This is no imaginary picture. 
"We have known hundreds of such cases, and, as 
babies are not able to speak for themselves, please 
allow us to speak for them, and vindicate justice in 
their behalf. In the first place, no whisky, oil 
or salt is needed, but if they are all dispensed 
with you will soon see there is no necessity of 
either paregoric or soothing syrup, it will not be 
troubled with colic or spasms. No food is needed 
only what nature supplies from the mother. The 
baby will not suffer if it does not get anything to 
eat for the first twenty-four hours. JS T o baby has 
ever yet died for want of food the first two days of 
its life; but there have been hundreds, yes, thou- 



72 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

sands killed, or their health ruined for life, by this 
unnatural treatment; if you do not abuse your 
baby from the first, its stomach will require noth- 
ing of the kind, it will sleep quietly and grow fat 
and beautiful each day. Its clothing should be 
plain and simple, just long enough to cover the 
feet nicely; if too long, will prevent the free action 
of the feet and legs. The clothes should be fas- 
tened with little tapes instead of pins; wash the 
baby with warm soft water and castile soap; a lit- 
tle oil may be needed on the head, under the arms, 
etc.,- to remove the gluey substance, then take clear 
water and rinse it off, dry with a soft linen cloth. 
When dressed, wrap in a small blanket and lay it 
in a warm, cozy nest, then you can sit down in peace 
and see it rest easy and sleep sweetly; this will 
soon convince you that you have done right. If 
the mother should fail to furnish the proper sup- 
ply in three or four days, then you can give it arti- 
ficial food properly prepared; take a little milk 
and warm water sweetened with sugar of milk; 
sometimes the mother's milk becomes impover- 
ished, and, consequently, the child grows poor and 
is never satisfied ; in such cases, as the child grows 
older it will require stronger food, and should at 
once be weaned; use a little bread, arrow root and 
sugar, simmer in a little water until it is quite 
smooth, then add milk until it is the proper thick- 
ness; sweeten a little and it is ready; another is 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 73 

gruel made from oatmeal well cooked; strain, then 
add a little milk and sugar; the nearer the food 
can be prepared like the mother's milk, the less 
injurious it is; remember babies are not always 
hungry when they cry; it may be a pin, the clothes 
too tight on some part of the body. Babies are 
like older people — creatures of habit — and it is 
wonderful how soon they form them. If you 
teach it to be rocked to sleep, it will cry until its 
desire is satisfied; so you see it is as easy to teach 
it good habits as well as bad ones. You can 
teach it cleanliness when very young with little 
trouble and regular attendance every day. Try it, 
and see; if you will, your baby will always be 
healthy, sweet and clean; and they are a joy and 
blessing in every home. All habits should begin 
from the first, then, instead of babies being a 
trouble, they will be a pleasure. The next process 
the little one is compelled to pass through is 
teething, and it requires careful and close attention 
from the mother or nurse. We cannot do better 
than quote from Doctor Younhiri's admirable little 
pamphlet on teething, entitled, " A Good Nurse," 
with but little change: 

TEETHING. 

More children die passing this period of their 
lives than any other time; just when they have be- 
gun to grow interesting. Up to this period they 



74 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

have always been healthy; have not been sick a day; 
they are fat, and look so sweet; they have begun to 
pull on the love strings, which wind so tight about 
the mother's heart. But, ah, me; they are begin- 
ning to cut their teeth, and are so sick. Now, if 
we can be the means of teaching mothers how to 
save their children from the grave, while they are 
passing through this critical period of their lives, 
we will feel that this book has accomplished its 
purpose, and our life has not been lived in vain. 

When a child is teething, there is a heavy 
pressure upon the gums from the teeth forcing 
their way through; this, of course, produces irrita- 
tion and inflammation of the gums; they become 
very tender and sore to the touch. This acts upon 
the nervous system and is sometimes followed by 
high fever; the stomach and bowels are all out 
of order, and the child is fretful and sick. If 
the bowels become relaxed, and it vomits up 
its food, etc., do not fly to your soothing syrup, ■ 
or your paregoric and laudanum. One drop of 
laudanum, or five drops of paregoric, or half a tea- 
spoonful of soothing syrup have been known to kill 
an infant. Do not, we beg of you, suffer anybody 
to ever give your child these medicines, but use 
your little simple remedies which you know will 
do no harm. 

If the mother fail to furnish sufficient milk for the 
child, or if it has begun to eat food, be careful what 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 75 

you give it to eat. Do not give it any green vegeta- 
bles or green fruit, but resort to your Extract of 
Beef, Oatmeal "Water, Milk Punch, etc. (see pages 
17, 20 and 22); they will be sufficient. Keep the 
child warmly clad; change its garments every time 
the weather changes; if it is broken out with heat, 
bathe its body occasionally with a little soda water 
(such as you use for baking purposes), wipe dry and 
dust its body with a little cream of tartar. Occa- 
sionally give a little lime water in its milk; also 
a piece of nice dried beef to suck — cut in a long 
strip so it cannot swallow it. If jou follow these 
rules, you will seldom need call a physician ; but if 
they should fail, you may call one who has expe- 
rience in the treatment of little children. 

When the teeth are coming through avoid 
giving hard substances to bite upon, they break 
the enamel upon the teeth and they are apt to de- 
cay. The best thing is an India rubber ring. 
Wash it clean, then spread some molasses on it, and 
the child will work upon it with perfect pleasure and 
safety. But if the teeth are tedious in coming 
through, and the gums become swollen and in- 
flamed, vou had better take it to the doctor and 
have him cut the gums, or to a good dentist, who will 
scarify them over each tooth. We have done this 
many times, and have been astonished to see how 
quickly the stomach and bowel trouble would pass 
away, and the child be apparently well in a few 



76 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

days. When the child gets old enough to walk, do 
not make it stand too long at a time. If one child 
walks at a certain age ; it*is no reason why another 
should. If vou force it you run the risk of bending 
its limbs. 

Some people are in the habit of frightening their 
children about " the doctor! " saying he will come 
and cut your ears off. He will pull your teeth 
out, etc., etc. This is all wrong. If you do not 
want it to be timid and a coward all through life, 
never allow anybody to scare it while young. How 
can the physician, under such circumstances, tell 
the condition of the tongue or the state of the pulse 
when the little one is almost frightened to death and 
trembling with fear? Do not terrify the child in 
this way. Impress them with the idea that when 
he comes he will cure them, and will be a friend 
to them when well; then the child will learn to be 
calm and trustful, besides much easier restored to 
health. When they have confidence the medicine 
has much better effect. There is a great difference 
between a grown person and a child when sick; an 
adult has a dread of death and the consequences 
after death. Hence, he submits very readily to 
treatment in the hope of living longer; while the 
child has no fear, for its mind is too young to be 
doctrinated into the false ideas of the condition of 
life beyond the grave. But the little one only 
dreads and knows its present pain. Children, 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 77 

therefore, if not too weak to bear it, should be 
amused with toys and pictures; give them a slate 
and pencil, a doll, pet dog or kitten, anything to 
cheer their little spirits and give the best chances 
for recovery. 

CROUP. 

Croup is an alarming disease, and requires im- 
mediate treatment in many cases to save life. 
Sometimes it runs a very rapid course and destroys 
life in a very few hours. We will tell you how 
it may be recognized. It commences with a short, 
dry cough, the cough always sounds hoarse; the 
breathing is increased and labored — there is a 
peculiar rasping, grating, or choking sound, which 
seems to proceed from the throat. If you have a 
case of this kind you should go to work immedi- 
ately. Below we give you a reliable treatment 
that will do good service: 

Tincture of ipecac 1 drachm 

Tincture of lobelia seed 1 " 

Tincture of aconite root 10 drops. 

Powdered nitre 4 drachms. 

Bromide of potassium 20 grains. 

Glycerine 4 ounces. 

Distilled water _ _1 ounce. 

Mix together and shake well. 
Take this prescription to your druggist and get 
him to prepare it for you; it will keep for years. 



78 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Put it in your medicine chest, as described on page 
29. Have it marked plainly on the label, " For 
Croup. Dose, teaspoonful every half hour till re- 
lief, then prolong the intervals as the case may 
require." Now commence treatment promptly. 
Give a dose of the above medicine ; make a 
poultice of bran, add some ground mustard, apply 
it to the breast and throat, and keep it there till 
it reddens the skin. Place the child's feet in 
hot water, adding hot water occasionally, till the 
child gets better and breathes easier. The author 
has saved the lives of hundreds of children by this 
treatment. It will not fail if taken in time. You 
should keep calm, not get frightened, and you will 
be astonished to see how soon your child will 
recover from these alarming symptoms. 

HOMCEOPATHIC TKEATMENT. 

In addition to the above external treatment, if 
the poultice cannot be obtained quickly, use hot 
applications of salt and water, keeping the cloth 
covered with a dry towel, or, if preferred, rub the 
throat and chest with goose grease then cover 
with a hot flannel cloth. 

Aeon. 3.x. — High fever, dry skin, restlessness; 
child in agony, throws itself about; dry, short 
cough, but not wheezing; cough with loud breath- 
ing and great hoarseness. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE 79 

Bell. 3.x. — Frequent barking, croupy cougb, 
whistling breathing; hot, dry skin, face red, eyes 
congested, pupils dilated, tonsils red and swollen, 
great irritability. 

Kali-brom. 3.x.— Spasmodic croup. Child awak- 
ens suddenly from a sound sleep by a sense of suffo- 
cation, with a peculiar ringing, dry, brassy cough 
and hurried breathing; child agitated, face flushed, 
eyes bloodshot, etc., etc. 

Give the remedies as indicated or alternate. 

Aeon, and Bell. — 10 drops in usual amount of wa- 
ter. Dose, teaspoonful every 10 or 15 minutes until 
relieved. If these remedies are not'at hand, a syrup 
made from vinegar and white sugar, add a little 
alum; this is excellent and can always be had in 
every home; give while warm and every few mo- 
ments, keeping the child as warm and quiet as pos- 
sible, if it perspires so much the better. 

WHOOPING-COUGH. 

This disease does not show itself in two or 
three days, usually from nine days to two weeks. 
At first the symptoms are merely that of a slight 
cold; the child has a short, dry cough, particu- 
larly when food is taken; this will continue for 
a week, or perhaps longer, before you will no- 
tice any other particular symptoms. The lit of 
coughing is preceded by convulsive drawing of 
the breath, and, as it rushes into the lungs, causes 



80 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

the peculiar Whoop; the cough lasts for a minute 
or two, then generally ends with vomiting; the 
breathing is then quiet for a time, and the child 
is comparatively at ease until the next spasm 
comes on. It is considered more dangerous for 
children under two years old. If the child has 
convulsive coughs, we would advise you to seek 
medical advice. Medical progress has done much 
toward a successful management of this disease, 
the Eclectic in particular, to which class of prac- 
titioners the author feels proud to belong. They 
have done much, of late years, by the use of newly 
discovered remedies, to mitigate the suffering. 
Many children are cured without going through 
the usual prolonged time. But we feel we cannot ■ 
give you special treatment for this complicated dis- 
ease. It is not the purpose of this book to advise you 
to handle medical agents of which you know nothing 
about, but point out the true road for you to 
gain your health. In mild cases, and with the 
best care, the following medicine, red pepper tea 
sweetened with honey, with a few drops of tincture 
of lobelia, used as a gargle several times a day, 
will be all that is necessary in most cases; but you 
should protect the chest with suitable clothing and 
keep the feet warm and dry. You must not re- 
sort to the usual cough medicines and syrups, 
they will do no good and many times produce 
injury. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 81 

HOMOEOPATHIC TEEATMENT. 

Aeon. 3.x. — Indication: Constant febrile condi- 
tion, cough dry, whistling, with soreness of the 
throat; the child grasps at its throat with every 
cough as if in great pain. Great restlessness and 
anxiety. Ten drops to half tumbler of water. 
Dose, teaspoonful every half hour until symptoms 
abate, then prolong the intervals. 

Bell. 3.x. — Indication: Frequent paroxysms of 
coughing, worse in the night; barking like croup, 
face very red with every coughing spell, eyes 
swollen, bleeding at the nose. This should be given 
all through the disease, prepared as above and 
given every hour. 

Kali. bic. — Violent rattling cough, with an ef- 
fort to vomit; choking cough, with thick, stringy 
mucus. Alternate with the above, prepared and 
given the same. 

MEASLES (RUBEOLA). 

This disease is a continued infectious fever, pre- 
ceded by sneezing, watering of the eyes and nose 
— a complete catarrh, accompanied by a crimson 
rash, and often attended or followed by inflammation 
of the mucous membranes of the organs of respi- 
ration. 

Symptoms. — After a period of incubation, vary- 
6 



/ 



82 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

ing from ten to fourteen days, there is lassitude* 
shivering, fever and catarrh. The conjunctiva* 
Schneiderian membrane, mucous membrane of the 
fauces, larynx, trachea and bronchi become much 
affected; swelling of the eyelids; suffused eyes, 
watery, intolerant to light; sneezing, dry cough, 
hoarseness, difficulty of breathing, drowsiness, and 
great heat of the skin; tendency to delirium;, 
frequent hard, rapid pulse; tongue white. The 
eruption usually appears at the end of the third 
day; seldom earlier, often later. It consists of 
small circular dots or spots, like flea-bites, which 
gradually unite into blotches of a dirty-red color, 
and slightly raised above the skin. The rash first 
appears upon the forehead and face, then on 
the neck and breast, and gradually extends all over 
the body. It begins to fade away in the same way 
— first on the forehead, etc. It produces no marked 
desquamation, which is characteristic of scarlet 
fever. Diarrhea often sets in as the rash disap- 
pears. It is usually salutary. The fever does not 
subside on the disappearance of the eruptions, nor 
does the severity of the attack depend upon the 
quantity of the rash. The contagion of measles 
is active and varied. Pulmonary complications 
are apt to follow — laryngitis, cancerum oris, se- 
vere otitis, epistaxis, acute tuberculosis, etc. 

Treatment. — Confine the patient to a warm, dry, 
airy apartment; enjoin thorough hygiene; have 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 83 

the patient sponged off every two or three hours 
with warm water or warm vinegar and water, then 
give the 

Tincture of aconite, 10 to 15 drops, in one-third 
tumblerful of water. Mix. 

Tincture of Belladonna, 10 to 15 drops. 

Water, one-third tumblerful. Mix. 

Dose, teaspooful; alternate them every hour. 

Occasionally, between times, give warm saffron 
tea or hot lemonade, plenty of it. Keep up, if 
possible, a gentle sweat. Diet — milk, beef tea, 
buttermilk and milk punch (see page 17 and 22). 

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

Aconite 3.x. — Indications: At the beginning, 
when there is hot skin, full and quick pulse, and 
much thirst, eyes red, watery, and sensitive to 
light, with dry, hacking, or hoarse, croup j cough, 
headache and vertigo on rising, 10 drops in usual 
amount of water; alternate with Bell., prepared 
the same. Dose, teaspoonful every half or one- 
hour, as the case demands. 

Bry. 6.x. — Indications: "When the eruption is 
imperfectly developed, congestion of the chest, 
shooting, stitching pains, increased by deep breath- 
ing; dry, painful cough, with roughness and dry- 
ness of the larynx; sitting up in the bed causes 
nausea and faintness, thirst for large draughts of 






84 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

water, 10 drops to half tumbler of water. Dose, 
teaspoonful every hour until patient is better. 

Phos. 12.x. — Indications: If the disease be com- 
plicated with pneumonia, or if typhoid symptoms 
set in, tightness across the chest, with violent and 
exhausting cough, and rust-colored sputa, stitching 
pains in the chest, hoarseness, with loss of voice, 
10 drops to half tumbler of water. Dose, tea 
spoonful every hour. 

CHOLERA INFANTUM. 

Sugar of milk half ounce. 

Lactated pepsin 35 grains. 

Lactic acid 

Hydrochloric acid 

Aromatic syrup of rhubarb, of each, .half drachm. 
Tincture of prickly ash berries (xan- 

thorylum) _ 1 drachm. 

Distilled water „.„ on „..one and a half ozs. 

Syrup of lemon ._. = . .one and a half ozs. 

Mix. 

Dose, half teaspoonful every half hour, or hour, 
as the case may require. If it be too strong for the 
child, it can be made weak and palatable to the 
taste. 

HOMCEOPATHIC TKEATMENT. 

Arsen. 3.x. — Diarrhea, vomiting, great thirst 
for cold water, but the drink is thrown off imme- 
diately; hot skin, great restlessness, stools dark 
and green, pale face, cold extremities. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 85 

Camph. 3.x. — Skin cold as marble, the child will 
not remain covered. There may be neither vom- 
iting nor purging, only coldness and extreme pros- 
tration; rapid breathing. 

Bapt. 3.x. — Very offensive diarrhea, day and 
night; child can swallow nothing but milk. 

Iris. ver. 3.x. — Griping pain, diarrhea and vom- 
iting of food, bile, or of very sour fluid; profuse, 
frequent, watery stools, or mushy, pappy stools, 
attended with discharges of fetid flatus; pale face, 
with blueness around the eyes, 10 drops in half a 
glass of water. Dose, teaspoonful' every half hour 
or hour, as the case demands. 

WORMS. 

Worm troubles arenotso common asis generally 
supposed. Almost every irritation or abnormal 
condition of a child is attributed by the parents or 
others to the presence of worms, and the little suf- 
ferer is often made worse by the use of medicines. 
In no case, however, should the child be purged 
and medicated for worms unless quite positive 
that such are present. Rarely do they exist with- 
out some evidence being shown in the discharges 
from the bowels; hence these should be carefully 
examined. Large sums of money are annually 
spent in this way. Get your druggist to prepare 
the following prescription: 

Santonine ._ 4 grains. 

Sugar of milk 10 grains. 



86 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Mix and triturate, divide into six powders. 

Give one of these powders three times per day 
for three days; then skip two days; afterward give 
the other powders in like manner. Pour it from 
the paper into the child's mouth — after which give 
the patient a sup of water. The child will not ob- 
ject. This is to be followed by a little salt and water. 
The child's food may contain an extra quantity oi 
salt for a few days, but this excess of salt should be 
discontinued when it is rid of the worms. This is 
all the treatment any child need have. 

HOMCEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

Belh 3.x. — Symptoms: Flushed face and red 
eyes, violent starting and jumping during sleep, 
involuntary discharge of feces and urine, gritting 
of the teeth, moaning and uneasy sleep, 10 drops 
in one-third of a glass of water. Dose, teaspoon- 
ful every hour. 

Cina. 6.x. — Symptoms: Constant boring at the 
nose; frequent swallowing, as if something was in 
the throat; restless sleep, rolling of the eyes; short, 
hacking cough, particularly at night; abdomen 
hard and distended, with frequent pain in the um- 
bilical region; the urine turns milky after stand- 
ing a short time. Prepare as above. Dose the 
same. After these remedies have been taken a few 
days, take a few doses of sulphur 3.x., then return 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 87 

to either of the above remedies, as the symptoms 
indicate. All sweets should be avoided. A milk 
diet is the best. 

CONVULSIONS OR FITS. 

These conditions arise from many causes. Some- 
times from teething, worms, or from hard, indi- 
gestible food that has been eaten — anything that 
will tend to irritate the stomach and bowels; or 
overloading the stomach may produce convulsions. 
There may be something wrong with the brain, 
or they may be produced from previous injury, 
a fall, or in some other way. But if the child 
be suffering from a fit, do not get frightened or 
excited ; take things calmly, you can work faster 
when cool and deliberate, and to a good deal better 
advantage. First, seek the advice of your phy- 
sician. If he is not at hand when the fit comes on 
take some cloths, dip them into hot mustard water 
and wrap the child's feet and lower part of the 
limbs, let them remain till the skin is quite red, 
and as soon as opportunity is offered give a tea- 
spoonful of syrup of ipecac, or 20 drops of tincture 
of lobelia in a little sweetened water (each of which 
should always be kept in your medicine chest, see 
page 29), try and induce sickness at the stom- 
ach and vomiting, if possible. If the head should 
appear hot apply cold water. This is good treat- 
ment and will often bring the child out all right. 






88 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

But when the doctor comes he will find out the 
cause, and prescribe for you accordingly. 

OMCEOPATHIC TEEATMENT. 

^Then the little one is affected with this annoy- 
ing complaint, little can be done at the time only 
to bring it out of the spasm. Then the cause 
should be ascertained and treated accordingly, 
whether it be constitutional or acquired. "When 
the fit first appears the best thing to be done is to 
give a teaspoonful of salt and water, then put the 
feet and legs in hot water. As soon as the spasm 
has passed away give the following remedies: 
Bell. 3.x. Gels. 3x., 10 drops of each in half glass 
of water. Alternate every few moments until the 
little sufferer is better. 

EARACHE. 

First, the ear should be carefully examined to 
see if any foreign substance is in it, that may pro- 
voke the difficulty ; if so, remove at once and it will 
bring relief. If nothing of the kind is discovered, 
we may know it to be the result of cold. Then 
proceed as follows: 

Heat a brick or stone, wrapping it up with a 
damp cloth or towel, and place to the ear, heating 
and sweating it freely. At the same time take 
equal parts of sweet oil and glycerine, teaspoonful 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 89 

each, and add 10 drops of laudanum; mix well by 
warming it over the stove. Then take a straw or 
little stick, and drop 3 or 4 drops into the ear. 
This will give you relief at once. 

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

In connection with the above, we can only add 
constitutional treatment to remove the cause and 
prevent a recurrence, such as Cai. carb. 3.x., Sili- 
cia 6.x. , Sulph. 30.x. These remedies should be 
taken separately in the usual way, continued for a 
week, then omit two weeks and repeat again. 
Continue this course until all symptoms are re- 
moved. 






MISCELLANEOUS DISEASES. 



LIVER COMPLAINT. 

The liver is the largest gland in the body, 
weighing from three to four pounds. It is situ- 
ated in the right hypochondriac, epigastric and a 
part of the left hypochrondriac region ; the upper sur- 
face is convex, and in relation with the diaphragm; 
the under surface is concave, and in relation 
with the stomach, duodenum, hepatic flexure of 
the colen right kidney and supra-renal capsule. Its 
structure is composed of lobules connected by fine 
areolar tissue, and the ramification of the branches 
of the hepatic vessels. Each lobule is composed of 
ceils, a plexus of ducts, branch of a vein and mi- 
nute arteries. The minute ducts unite until they 
emerge from the lower surface in two trunks, which 
unite to form the hepatic duct. Into this the cys- 
tic duct from the gall-bladder enters, and the two 
form the ductus communis choledochus. The gall- 
bladder is a reservoir for the bile from the hepatic 
duct, it being full after a fast, and empty during 
digestion. The liver, then, is an assimilating or- 
gan. Its function is the secretion of bile, by 

(90) 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 91 

which the h} T drocarbonaceous portions of the effete 
matters from the blood are removed, as the effete, 
nitrogenous portions are removed by the kidneys. 
The bile, which is partly excrementious, exerts an 
important influence upon the process of digestion. 
It has an antiseptic action on the contents of the 
intestines. It stimulates the intestinal walls, and 
by a peculiar physical action on the fats and intes- 
tinal parieties, disintegrates the fats and moistens 
the villi, thus facilitating the absorption of the 
fatty matter. Therefore, this being the largest or- 
gan and one of the most important ones, it is 
very liable to become diseased, among which are 
enlargement, inflammation, acute and chronic, etc. 
This organ is more liable to suffer from depression 
than any other in the body, because it is more 
intimately connected with all other organs. 

Symptoms are pain in the head, with vertigo; 
mental depression, yellow conjunctiva; yellow, 
brown-coated tongue; nausea, vomiting, fetid breath, 
dyspeptic symptoms, pain in the right side and 
under the shoulder-blades, dullness at the apex of 
the right lung, caused by a depression of the 
eighth pair of nerves that supply the liver, which 
are reflected upon the upper part of this organ; 
there may be difficulty of lying on the left side; 
jaundice; there may be fever disturbance, with 
great depression, with inclination to sleep; great 
depression, loss of energy, indiiference to lite. 



92 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

sometimes diarrhea, but most always constipated 
condition of the bowels, with clay-colored stools. 

Treatment must be very energetic if there be 
fever; the skin hot and dry, you must resort to the 
alcohol sweat-bath (see description of bath), or, if 
this be not at hand, then the sponge-bath must be 
resorted to, followed by vigorous rubbing with the 
towel. This is highly essential to secure a restora- 
tion of the cutaneous function; this treatment is 
of great importance. The diet should consist of 
articles rich in blood-making elements, with a rigid 
avoidance of carbonaceous food, fats, sugar, pastries 
and stimulants; plenty of out-door exercise, etc. 
The remedy best adapted to arouse the action of 
the liver is the following prescription: 

Fluid extract leptandrin ; fluid extract Euonymus 
(Wahoo), of each one drachm. 

Fluid extract Podophyllum, five drops. 

Aqua distilla, glycerine, of each two ounces. 

Mix. Dose, teaspoonful every two hours. 

Alternate the sponge bathing with diluted nitro- 
muriatic acid; acidulate the water just a little; 
the next time use common baking soda, table- 
spoonful to a bucket of water. 

HOMCEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

Added to the above external treatment, when 
there is much pain in the region of the liver, im- 
mediate relief may be found in applying hot 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 93 

fomentations; this may be done by wringing a flan- 
nel cloth from water as hot as can be borne; let it 
remain for five minutes, then wet again; it would 
be much better to use two cloths and alternate 
them, having a dry towel to place over the flannel 
to keep the clothing dry; this is usually followed by 
relief in two hours. 

Internal Treatment.— Bry. 3.x. Burning, stitch- 
ing pain, worse from motion; fullness of stomach 
and abdomen, pain in the right shoulder, yellow- 
ish face, white tongue, great thirst, constipation. 
Dose, 10 drops to half glass of water; teaspoonful 
every hour. 

Leptandran. Hot, aching pains in the liver, with 
chilliness along the spine; yellow tongue; constant 
nausea, with vomiting of bile; loss of appetite, 
urine dark color, stools dark, dizziness, despond- 
ing, drowsy, with much soreness of head and eye- 
balls. This remedy may be alternated with Po- 
doph. 12.x. Dose, 20 drops of Lep. to half glass 
of water; 10 drops of Podoph. to half glass of water. 
Teaspoonful every half hour; as symptoms abate 
prolong the interval. 



DKOPSY. 



This is a disease too complicated to go into de- 
tails of its historv and causes, farther than to Bay 
it may become partial or general in its manifesto- 



94 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

tions. The main cause is from the large venous 
trunk being compressed, or obliterated, so that the 
blood can no longer circulate through it, while the 
collateral vessels cannot be relieved; hence drop- 
sical effusion is the result, and the effusion is in 
proportion to the size and importance of the vein 
obliterated or compressed. If, for instance, in the 
vena cava, or large vein in the abdomen, compres- 
sion or any other obstacle should prevent the return 
of the blood, then the two lower intestines, as well 
as the scrotum, would become filled with water, 
or serum, and collections may perhaps take place 
in the abdomen. Then again, if this obstruction 
takes place at the very center of circulation, namely, 
the heart, the return of blood everywhere would be- 
come embarrassed ; then the dropsical effusion would 
become general. A cold will often produce dropsy, 
also eruptive skin diseases, such as scarlet fever, or 
rheumatism, or it may result from degeneration of 
the kidneys, or from glandular enlargement of the 
liver, etc., etc. Albumen is always present in the 
urine in this disease. This can be discovered by 
boiling the urine in a small tube, the albumen be- 
coming like the white of an egg boiled. 

Symptoms. — In the first stages, weakness and dys- 
pepsia; the blood loses its red particles very rap- 
idly, there is great suppression of urine. In the 
second stages the symptoms are a pallid, pasty 
complexion, and often a dry, hard skin; drowsi- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 95 

ness, weakness, indigestion and frequent nausea; 
often retching the first thing in the morning, and 
often palpitation of the heart. The most charac- 
teristic symptom is, the patient is awakened several 
times during the night with a desire to urinate. 

Treatment. — This is one of those harrassing 
complaints which physicians in family practice 
seldom have the patience to investigate and man- 
age with sufficient care. The condition of the 
stomach, bowels and skin should have special at- 
tention. Free action of the skin should be had; in 
this way the kidneys are relieved, and thus the 
blood purified. Stimulating diuretics should not 
be used, but, to get up a free diuresis, resort at 
once to the hot air bath two or three times a week, 
followed by oiling the body well with goose grease 
or olive oil, rubbing it in well with the hands. A 
counter irritation should be made over the region 
of the kidneys 

It is our confident belief that this grave disease 
can be cured in nearly every instance if not too far 
advanced. We know it from the success that has 
always attended our treatment. We will cheerfully 
and gladly attend any of the readers in the place 
where we are at work selling our book, who maj 
have this disease. We will give you a prescription 
which has always given us the most happy results: 

^luid extract of unicorn root (Helonin), 



96 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Fluid extract of Indian hemp (Apocynum 
cannabinum), of each one-half ounce; 

Glycerine sufficient to make a four-ounce mix- 
ture. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful every two or three hours, as 
the case demands. If the stomach is weak and will 
not tolerate the medicine without nausea, take less 
at a dose, and oftener, 

HOMOEOPATHIC TEEATMENT. 

To the above treatment we will only add a few 
internal remedies. 

Apis. mel. 3.x. — Indication: Scanty urine, sleep- 
lessness, absence of thirst, stinging, burning pains 
in different parts of the body; dropsy of the chest, 
with a sense of suffocation; great soreness of the 
abdominal walls, cannot get breath except when 
sitting. Ten drops to a third of a tumbler water. 
Dose, teaspoonful every hour. 

Arsen. 3.x. — Indication: (Edema of the lower ex- 
tremities; skin, and particularly the face, looks 
pale, earthy; great debility and prostration, faint 
feeling from slight motion, tongue dry, great 
thirst, drinks but little at a time; suffocated spells, 
especially at night, when lying on the back; rapid 
respiration, skin cool, burning heat inside. Twelve 
drops to half tumbler of water. Dose, teaspoonful 
every half to one hour. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 97 

Dig. 6.x. — For all kinds of dropsies, with diffi- 
cult urination ; pale face, intermitting pulse ; 
doughy swelling, which easily yields to the pressure 
of the finger; cyanotic symptoms, with fainting; 
when there are organic affections of the heart. 
Twelve drops to half tumbler of water. Dose, tea- 
spoonful ever half to one hour. 



KIDNEY DISEASE. 

The kidneys are situated one in each lumbar re- 
gion, behind the peritoneum, between the eleventh 
rib and the crest of the ilium. They are usually 
surrounded with fat, and held in position by their 
vessels. The supra-renal capsules embrace the su- 
perior extremity. Their length in the adult is 
about four inches, breadth about two, and thickness 
about one inch. Their weight in the male is 
about five ounces, in the female about four. Their 
substance is dense and firm, but fragile, and of a 
deep red color. It is composed of tubuli uriniferi, 
blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics, with a gran- 
ular substance containing granular cells. The 
kidneys are the secretory organs of the urine, which 
is the waste portions of the system, and is sepa- 
rated by the kidneys and carried out of the system. 
Therefore, the urine is a solution of excrementi- 
tious substances which represent the transformation 
7 



98 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

of the albuminous ingredients of the tissues; they 
are the refused product of waste brought down in the 
blood, and separated and discharged by the urinary 
organs as described above. There are so many 
complicated diseases connected with the urinary 
apparatus we cannot go into detail with all of 
them, but will only speak of some of the most com- 
mon disturbances. 

A depressed condition of the kidneys takes place 
from many causes; the excreting power of the or- 
gan becomes impaired many times from the effort 
made to excrete the poisonous matter in the blood 
during the process of malarial or other poisonous 
diseases, such as small-pox, etc., or any kind of drug 
poison. The greatest effort of nature during dis- 
ease to eliminate the poison from the system is 
through the skin; if this fails the kidneys suffer; 
if the vitals are feeble, or fail to perform their part 
of the work, an extra amount of labor devolves 
upon the kidneys. In measles, erysipelas, and the 
long category of cutaneous diseases, we often have 
the kidneys performing an excessive amount of 
work, and the result will be inflammation or con- 
gestion. It may be produced by mechanical injury, 
from intemperance, or from cold and exposure to 
damp weather, starvation, etc., etc. 

.Symptoms. — When it is the result of cold it is 
ushered in with rigors and chilliness, and flashes 
of heat, the febrile reaction preceding the occur- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 99 

rence of pain in the loins. When proceeding from 
mechanical injury, irritating substances, from gout 
or rheumatism, the first intimation of its appear- 
ance is an acute, pressing pain in the right or left 
lumbar region; the pain is deep-seated and but lit- 
tle augmented by pressure, concussive motion of 
the body increases the pain; the urine becomes 
scanty; if both kidneys become affected the urine 
almost entirely suppressed. 

Treatment. — Perfect rest, dry cupping over the 
loins, followed by hot fomentations; after this the 
hot alcohol sweat-bath should be given (see descrip- 
tion of bath); at the same time take the following 
prescription: 

Fluid extract Gelseminum, half drachm. 

Fluid extract Eupatorium, Pur. (Queen of the 
Meadow), one drachm. 

Fluid extract Sanguinary Can. (blood root), 10 
drops. 

Glycerine and Aqua Distil., of each 2 ounces. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful every hour, as the symptoms 
improve prolong the intervals. 

HOMOEOPATHIC TEEATMENT. 

Added to the above external treatment we advise 
the use of a compress; take a towel wet in salt and 
water (tablespoonful to a quart), place it over the 



100 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

region of the kidneys, well bound on with a dry 
cloth; let it remain all night, change it two or 
three times during the day ; when changing rub 
briskly with the hands. 

Aeon. 3.x. — Indication: High fever, secretion 
of urine diminished, micturition difficult and pain- 
ful; urine saturated or mixed with blood, conse- 
quence of exposure to cold. 

Bell. 3.x. — 10 drops each in a third of a glass of 
water. Dose, teaspoonful ; alternate with the above 
every hour. 

Berberis. — Indication: Burning and soreness 
in renal region; sharp pain in right kidney near 
the spine, extending into the bladder; stitching, cut- 
ting pains from the kidneys to bladder and urethra; 
the urine blood-red, speedily becoming turbid, de- 
positing thick mucus and light red sediment. 

Phos. 6.x. — Indication: Skin pale and iEnemic; 
frequent, watery diarrhea; in complication pneu- 
monia, bronchial catarrh, etc. Alternate this with 
the above, 10 drops of each in half glass of water. 
Dose, teaspoonful every hour. 

Canth. 3.x. — Indication: Paroxysmal cutting 
and burning pain in renal region, which is very 
sensitive to the slightest touch, attended with pain 
in the orifice of the urethra, with constant urging 
to urinate; only a few drops at a time and very 
painful, sometimes mixed with blood; high fever, 
pulse frequent and hard, constipation, stupor and 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 101 

numbness. Ten drops to half glass of water. Dose, 
teaspoonful every one or two hours. 



DIABETES. 



This is a real disease which many parents are 
wholly ignorant of, therefore many a poor child has 
been unmercifully whipped to break it from the 
habit of wetting the bed — this is cruel. 

Cause. — Diabetes is an affection of the system 
dependent upon a disordered state of the digestive 
organs, with a defect of the assimilative functions, 
which is characterized by a condition of extreme 
nervous prostration, a morbid appetite for food and 
drink, and the secretion of a large quantity of glu- 
cose, or grape sugar. It is, properly speaking, a 
saccharine diathesis, for not only is the starch of 
the food converted into sugar, but, owing to the 
morbid condition of the liver, or the nerves which 
supply it, the liver only secretes, per se, saccharine 
elements. 

The primary cause of diabetes consists, then, in a 
morbid condition of the digestive and assimilative 
organs, which favor the promotion of sugar from 
the starchy or farinaceous substances introduced 
into the alimentary canal, and its absorption into 
the blood and urine. But we cannot enter into de- 
tails of the subject in this book. 



102 ' GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Treatment. — A regular course of diatetics is of 
the first importance. A rigid and careful avoidance 
of all saccharine or starchy articles of food must 
be observed, and a liberal, nutritious diet must be 
adopted, consisting of beef, mutton, venison, fowls, 
game, fish, etc. If the patient can afford it, a sea 
voyage; if not, a salt-water sponge bath everyday, 
with a brisk and vigorous rubbing with the hands. 
Bits of ice, to allay the intense, craving thirst, 
should be taken. Buttermilk is a good drink. 
[Eight here we wish to say, before we forget it, 
that in all disorders, if the stomach will tolerate it, 
buttermilk is called for as a drink. It will allay 
thirst as well as water; besides there is a lactic 
acid in the buttermilk which is good for the 
stomach ; besides allaying thirst, it is a nutritious 
diet. The author always prescribes buttermilk in 
all acute as well as chronic diseases with the most 
happy and gratifying results.] The body should 
be well protected with flannels; plenty of exercise 
in the open air, but never to fatigue. Tonics and 
alteratives are the medicines in this disease. The 
best medicine to give is the diluted nitro-muriatic 
acid, half an ounce to one ounce of glycerine, tea- 
spoonful to a tumbler of water, to be used as a 
drink. 

Tincture of nux vomica, four drops ; diluted 
phosphoric acid, eight drops, to half a tumbler of 
water. Dose, teaspoonful every hour for several 
days, making fresh every day. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 103 

Our treatment should all be directed to the head 
and nervous system, rather than the stomach. 

For immediate control of the spasm of the 
sphincter muscles of the bladder in children who 
are wetting the bed every night, we will give you 
several remedies for this disease, as one remedy will 
not cure every case on account of the peculiar con- 
dition of the patient. 

You can get at your druggist's Squibb's etherial 
tincture of ergot; give it in from five to ten-drop 
doses, three or four times per day in a little water. 
This is excellent in some cases. 

Tincture of iodine, in one-drop doses, three or 
four times per day. 

Tincture of belladonna, from three to five-drop 
doses, on going to bed. 

Tincture of gelseminum, from eight to ten drops, 
on going to bed. 

The two last remedies are to be given only on 
going to bed. One dose per day is all that is re- 
quired. 

HOMCEOPATHIC TKEATMENT. 

We agree with the above external treatment, 
diet, etc., and will only add a few of our best rem- 
edies, to be taken internally. 

Helonias 3.x. — Indication: Unnatural languor, 
feeling of weakness and weight in region of kid- 



104 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

neys, general weariness ; wakes every morning 
with the lips, tongue, and fauces dry, and a bitter, 
disagreeable taste in the mouth ; passes large 
quantities of pale urine; pain, with lameness in 
the back; numbness of the feet and legs, relieved 
by motion; dull, gloomy, and irritable; profound 
melancholy. Ten drops to half glass water. Dose, 
teaspoonful every one or two hours. 

Phos. 6.x. — Indication: (Glycosuria, with phthi- 
sis) ; urine profuse,pale or turbid whitish,like curdled 
milk, with brick dust sediment. 

Sulph. Acid. 3.x. — Indication: Lassitude, debil- 
ity, despondency, dimness of mind and sight, itch- 
ing over the whole body, stitches in hepatic region, 
skin completely inactive, cold and dry; large quan- 
tities of sugar in urine. 

• Tereb. 6.x. — Indication: Inability to concentrate 
the mind; dull and languid, relieved by frequent 
micturition; despondency,'weary of life, obstruction 
of sight, sunken features, lips cracked and slightly 
bleeding, epistaxis (or nose bleed), tongue dry and 
red, foul breath, hunger and thirst, sour eructations 
and burning in the stomach, with frequent urina- 
tion. Prepare each remedy and take as directed 
in the above remedy. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 105 



GRAVEL. 



Gravel may be defined to be the discharge of a 
gritty powder or sand, or of small calculi deposits 
passed off with the urine, occasioning pain and 
irritation of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and 
urethra. Gravel is present in the uric, phosphatic 
and oxalic acid diathesis of the individual. The 
most common of the three forms is the uric acid — 
averaging 80 per cent, of all the cases. All ages 
and both sexes are liable to be afflicted with this 
disease. 

Cause. — Gravel is caused by a false assimilation 
of the solids and fluids of the body, unhealthy 
digestive organs, confined to the continued use of 
soft water or exclusive lime water for both cooking 
and drinking purposes. Of this, however, the 
author's opinion is formed from a very extended 
experience and observation of this disease. In 
cities, where the people cook and drink exclusively 
cistern water, is where we have found the most 
kidney and bladder diseases. We do not believe 
anybody should be confined to live exclusively on 
either soft or hard water for cooking or drinking 
purposes, but for health they should use both; if 
we should be compelled to choose one or the other 
for an exclusive use, we should choose the lime 
water rather than the usual cistern water; in fact, 
no cistern water is fit to use exclusively for drink- 



106 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

ing and cooking purposes, unless it has a good filter 
attached, and there are so few filters used that are 
fit for anything, so far as filtering out any of the 
organic matter, especially the usual rains that fall 
in summer, which people are most generally too 
apt to catch and save. The falling rains of sum- 
mer are hardly fit for drinking purposes, as the air 
is always more or less filled with the carbonaceous 
and malarious poisons that arise from the earth's 
surface and fill the upper currents of air with its 
deadly poisons, and as water is one of our -best 
known elements for the absorption of poisons, how 
can the rain, which falls through this atmosphere, 
help being filled, more or less, with this poison, 
which finds its way into cisterns for drinking pur- 
poses, to say nothing of the dirty roofs of houses, 
and the filthy gutters and water pipes, which are 
always in every case washed off and out from 
dashing rains. All this dirt and poison filth has 
taken up its quarters in the cistern, to be used by 
the human body. This is all wrong, for nobody 
can have permanent health living on this kind of 
water. 

We will give you our plan for a filter, which we 
have tested to our perfect satisfaction, and know it 
to be the best ever in use. It is cheap and dura- 
ble, never gets out of order, and we will not 
charge you anything extra for our patent. 

When you build your cistern, build it just a little 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 107 

larger than the usual size, especially at the top. 
Now build an eight-inch wall right through the 
center, from picked brick, pretty hard burnt, not too 
soft and shelly, but with nice, square, sharp edges. 
Lay this eight-inch center wall to the top of your 
cistern; it must be laid in mortar made from ce- 
ment, the same as you use to plaster your cistern 
with. Strike the joints well; be sure there are no 
air holes through between the brick and mortar. 
Join the center wall to the wall on each side of your 
cistern. When you plaster it, leave the center wall 
unplastered, and when your cistern is done let the 
water pipes in on one side of the wall, and put your 
pump in on the other side. As your water runs in 
the cistern from the rains it will filter through this 
eight-inch brick wall, and you will have the purest 
water you ever drank, and it will always be pure and 
free from any organic matter. If you will be care- 
ful in the winter and spring to fill your cistern after 
a heavy rain, when the roof has had sufficient time 
to be washed off, you will always have nice, pure, 
clear water. All cisterns should be cleaned out 
once per year. This filter will never get out of 
order, and will last as long as your cistern will, 
and be just about as cheap. This filter can be 
added to old cisterns if you will alter the top and 
make it a little larger, so that any one can put 
down a ladder and clean it. 

But, bless us! we did not intend to write an arti- 



108 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

cle upon cisterns and rain water; but here we have 
switched entirely off the track and told you how to 
build cisterns. But after all, it is as good a chap- 
ter as there is in the book, so we hope the reader 
will excuse us, while we try and find our way back 
to where we started from. 

Let's see; we were trying to Write an article 
upon the disease of gravel, weren't we? 

But we will surely have to go back and read over 
what we said, and see where we left off, so that 
we can pick up the dropped thread, tie a knot, 
and go on. 

Gravel, then, as we have said, is caused by an 
improper assimilation of the fluids of the body, 
which soon form into sand -like deposits. When 
the sediments are excessive they are called, chem- 
ically speaking, urates, lithates, phosphates, oxal- 
ates, according to the diathesis of the patient. 
When those assimilations are excessive it causes a 
serious disease, and if there is anything in the 
bladder like a mucous shred it acts as a nucleus for 
these sand-like deposits, and it forms what is known 
stone in the bladder. 

Symptoms. — In gravel, the patient has dull, 
aching pain in the back, preceded by and attended 
with frequent desire to urinate, followed by sharp, 
cutting, burning pains in the urethra and neck of 
the bladder, or in the course of the ureters. These ' 
pains extend along down the thigh and into the 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 109 

calves of the legs. The sudden stoppage of the 
stream of urine is caused by the stone rolling down 
into the neck of the bladder, and the patient has a 
constant desire to be pulling at the end of the penis 
to relieve the pain, which is always suggestive of 
the presence of stone in the bladder. 

The chemical nature of gravel should be ascer- 
tained; when this is done, the chemical opposites 
in the medicines should be administered, as no 
treatment will avail if not in chemical opposition. 
Bat if the stone has been formed, and is of any 
size, there is no treatment effectual. A surgeon 
should be consulted, who will remove it by an 
operation called lithotrity, or another term, lithon- 
tripsy. 

The solvent treatment consists of such agents as 
are chemically opposed to the nature of the cal- 
culi deposits. By such a course of medication our 
success has been the most gratifying. 

As soon as the patient is aware or has the least 
suspicion he has the gravel, he should at once see 
that his stomach, as well as all the internal organs, 
are in good running order. A strict nutritious diet 
should be adhered to. Sponging and bathing is 
in order and loudly called for. All stimulating 
drinks should be avoided, and adopt the muci- 
laginous drinks. 

Then the following prescription is a specific to 
neutralize and get rid of the sand-like deposits. 



110 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

The best remedy we have ever used is a tincture 
made from the inner bark from the root of the sweet 
apple tree. The medical properties are only in 
the root late in the fall and early in the spring, 
before the sap rises up in the tree, and after it has 
gone down into the roots. Tou can make it your- 
self in the following way, as it can seldom be found 
in the drugstores. ' 

Take of the bark of the root, eight ounces by 
weight. 

Put this into a bottle. 

Add alcohol 76 per cent., one pint by measure. 

Let it stand from fifteen to twenty days, shaking 
it occasionally that the strength be well drawn out. 

Dose of this medicine: One teaspoonful three or 
four times per day. It can be taken in a little 
sweetened water. 

The next best remedy is the 

Fluid extract of hydrangea. 

Dose, fifteen to twenty drops every three hours. 

Ten grains of borax dissolved in water should be 
drank every day during the treatment. 

HOMCEOPATHIC TBEATMENT. 

This disease is very difficult to manage, and has 
baffled the skill of all schools, and the treatment to 
a large extent has proven to be unsatisfactory, and 
where allowed to become chronic, the only perma- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. Ill 

nent relief will be a resort to surgery. The best 
way to avoid this disease, by its not being heredit- 
ary, is to pay close attention to the general health. 
When the calculi has already formed, the most di- 
rect way of treating is to inject the medicine into 
the bladder, thus dissolving the deposit more rap- 
idly and effectually. Any of the remedies men- 
tioned may be used; quantity small, teaspoonful to 
a cup of tepid water. 

. The following list are the remedies called for; 
prepare and take in the usual way: Berberis 2.x., 
Phos. 6.x., Eupat. purp., Urva. ursi 1.x., Sil. 3.x., 
Zinc 6.x. , Aram. arn. 3.x., Borax crudun, Nux 
mosch. 3.x., Sep. 3.x., Bell. 3.x., Oanth. 3.x., China 
3.x., Gal, carb. 6.x. 



INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 

These are propagated by a specific contagion, 
which gains access to the blood, thereby generat- 
ing a virus in the system. They are contracted by 
inhalation of gaseous exhalations, patients suffer- 
ing from diseases, or the discharged materials from 
the lungs, skin, or bowels. The atmosphere in 
neighborhoods may be so impregnated with this 
poison as to cause what is known an Epidemic. 

When a quantity of contagious matter, however 
small, is introduced into the blood of a healthv 



112 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

person, it will be propagated into the blood, and 
disease is the result. You should never undertake 
the treatment of these diseases yourself; better em- 
ploy a good physician and a good nurse, then you 
have done the best possible thing. When the 
skin begins to peel off, if it is a child, you will 
find it constantly picking at the nose, lips, teeth, 
or finger-nails. It is a curious fact, how they will 
interest themselves for hours, picking at them- 
selves till they bleed, without seeming to feel the 
least pain; nor is it any use to find fault 
with them, or even threaten them, it will do no 
^ood; it seems to be a part of the disease. Your 
only remedy is to place mittens upon the hands. 
After scarlet fever or small-pox, the room, with all 
its furniture, should be thoroughly disinfected. 
To accomplish this, cleanse the floor with hot 
water and lime, or carbolic acid; close the room 
air-tight, after removing everything from it, and 
then burn flour of sulphur; this can be done by 
placing an iron kettle, with legs to it, in the 
center of the room. Or, better still, heat the 
kettle sufficiently hot to burn sulphur, then 
sprinkle two or three ounces of sulphur in 
the kettle, hasten out and close the door tight; 
let this remain closed for three or four hours, 
then it can be opened and aired for several 
days; if you should whitewash the walls, your 
room would be as pure as ever. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 113 

SMALL-POX (Variola.). 

This disease is too well known to need a partic- 
ular description. It is always caused or commu- 
nicated by contagion; that is, caught from others 
who have it. There are two forms — the confluent, 
when the vesicles are so thick that they run to- 
gether; and distinct, when they are separate. 
Then we have small-pox, or varioloid, modified by 
constitutional predisposition — we won't say by vac- 
cination, because we don't believe vaccination ever 
prevented a case of small-pox; but, on the con- 
trary, we know of many cases of confluent small- 
pox after the patients informed us they had been 
vaccinated and took well. Therefore, we would 
advise you never allow your children to be vaccin- 
ated under any consideration. Our own observa- 
tion in regard to the human family we have formed 
after an experience of over twenty years in the 
practice of medicine, and have long since arrived at 
the conclusion that the inhuman practice of vaccin- 
ation has caused more deaths than the disease ever 
did, to say nothing of the consumptive and scrofu- 
listic wrecks that vaccination has left all over the 
world. From conscientious scruples, the author 
has never yet vaccinated a single individual, and 
we don't intend to commence now. Our voice 
shall ever be heard in condemnation of that inhu- 
man practice. 
8 



114 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

If the rules and laws of health are observed, 
which we have endeavored to give you in this book, 
you need never be any more afraid of small-pox 
than any other disease. However, we will tell you 
the treatment in this disease is simple and easy 
to manage. We have a remedy from Lundon 
which rivals all others for its simplicity, and, com- 
ing as it does so highly recommended, we appre- 
hend that it has accomplished all that is claimed 
for it: 

Dissolve one ounce of cream of tartar in one pint 
of boiling water. Of this, when cold, give half a 
gill for the first dose, to an adult. After this is 
taken, divide the remaining quantity into such 
doses as, taken three times a day, the whole will 
last three days. 

It is said that this simple remedy has restored 
thousands of cases, and will effectually cure this 
disease in five or six days, leaving no pit marks 
and no blindness, as is sometimes the case when 
otherwise treated, and always prevents the tedious 
lingering of convalescence; besides, it can be taken 
at any time, being preventive as well as curative. 
The use of it is so effectual that, were it popularly 
employed, it would dispense with the unnatural 
law of vaccination and the very costly staff of vac- 
cinators. 

Another remedy, more in use in some parts of 
Europe, and also in China, said to be the most sue- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 115 

cessful ever employed in those countries, and per- 
fectly effectual: Apply to the chest an ointment 
made by combining tartar emetic and croton oil 
with lard. This application should be made when 
the fever is at its height and just before the erup- 
tions appear. This causes all the eruptions to ap- 
pear on this part of the body, and thus relieves the 
internal organs and the face, on which there will be 
no pitting. 

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

This is a rare disease, and dreaded by all when 
prevailing as an epidemic. Great care and atten- 
tion should be paid to the sanitary condition. If 
a physician can be had, no one should try to treat 
it themselves, but in case one cannot be reached, 
we will give you the best treatment our experience 
has taught us. To prevent pitting: As soon as the 
pustules begin to appear, take a piece of cotton 
cloth the size of the face, cut holes for the eyes, 
nose and mouth; keep this constantly wet with di- 
luted carbolic acid; this will prevent the air from 
coming in contact with the face, also the itching 
and scratching; if the vesicles are not interfered 
with, no marks will be left. The room should be 
kept somewhat darkened, but well ventilated; strict 
attention to diet, and give the following remedies 
as indicated: 



116 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

For heat, burning and dryness, Apis. 3.x. 

Alternate chill and fever, Aeon. 3.x 

Chest symptoms, Bry. Phos. Gels. 3.x. 

Cerebral (or head) affections, Bell. Bry. 3.x. 

Hemorrhage, Phos. 3.x. 

Typhoid symptoms, Phos. acid 6.x., Bry. Rhus 
3x. 

For rattling in the throat, Tartar emetic 3.x. 

Collapse, or sinking, Carb. veg. Arsen. Lach. 6.x. 

Retention of eruptions, Cham. 6.x. 

Suppurative stage, Hep. Sulph. 3.x. 

For inflammation of the lungs and trachea, Hy- 
drastis 3.x. 

Prepare in the usual way, 10 drops in half glass 
of water. Dose, teaspoonful every half or one 
hour, according to the severity of the case. 



DIPHTHERIA. 

Diphtheria is scarcely more than a modification 
of scarlet fever. The patient first complains of 
lassitude, aches all over, especially in the back and 
hips; headache, loss of appetite, rigors and chills, 
active and quick pulse, a light-furred tongue, red- 
ness in the back of the mouth, enlargement of the 
glands about the neck, a hot, dry skin, and in most 
cases an exudation formed upon the mucous surfaces 
of the upper air passages. This soon becomes or- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 117 

ganized into a tough, white membrane, covering 
the soft palate and tonsils. These sometimes de- 
generate into ulcers. The breathing, in conse- 
quence of the condition of the membranes and air 
passages, becomes hurried and labored, and the 
patient becomes very restless and uneasy, pulse 
quick and frequent, the asphyxia ensuing ends in 
death. The breath becomes fetid. No one, after 
inhaling the breath and exudations arising from a 
diphtheric patient, can ever mistake this disease. It 
generally rages as an epidemic, and is regarded as 
contagious. 

Treatment. — The first step in the treatment 
should be an emetic by a copious draught of milk- 
warm water with a little salt and ground mustard 
added. This should be drank slowly and contin- 
ually until the patient vomits. No danger, don't 
be afraid of too much water; it is harmless. The 
vomiting will, at the same time, produce free per- 
spiration, which is highly necessary, and should be 
kept up by the use of the tincture of gelseminum 
and aconite root, of each 20 drops, added to a half 
tumbler of water. 

Dose, teaspoonful every hour. 

The kidneys should be kept in vigorous opera- 
tion. Flannel cloths should be wet with the com- 
pound tincture of capsium, myrrh and lobelia, and 
should be changed every half hour, and applied as 
hot as the patient can bear it, till the disease is 



118 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

under control, taking care that the throat is well 
protected from the cold air after the hot flannel 
cloths are abandoned. The patient should be kept 
in bed with hot jugs to the feet, and a gentle per- 
spiration kept up. The bowels should be evacu- 
ated bj injections of warm water. 

The following prescription the author has found 
to be a specific treatment to kill the ulcers and exu- 
dations that gather upon the tonsils and mucous 
membranes in the throat: 

Chlorate of potassium 1 drachm. 

Fluid extract wild yam (diascora villosa)__J^ drachm. 

Hydrate of chloral 1 drachm. 

Tincture of muriate of iron _1 drachm. 

Carbolic acid 5 drops. 

Glycerine 3 ounces. 

Mix well. 

Get your druggist to put this prescription up for 
you. Then, with a camel-hair brush, touch the ton- 
sils and all the exudations in the throat three or 
four times per day. If the patient swallows a little 
it will do no harm. If the medicine be a little too 
strong, it can be reduced with water. You will be 
astonished to see how soon the ulcers will clean off 
and begin to heal up under this treatment. 

Give the patient plenty of milk punch (see 
page 22 how to make it). Add plenty of brandy, 
as it is said, by late observers, that good whisky or 
brandy is a prophylactic in diphtheria, hence you 
can add more than usual. Also give the extract 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 119 

of beef (see page 17). In convalescing, the patient 
should have a good sponge-bath every day, followed 
by brisk rubbing with the hands by the nurse or 
some genial friend. 

HOMCEOPATHIC TEEATMENT. 

Much might be said about this fearful disease, 
but time and space forbid, and we think it very 
necessary that a physician should be consulted in 
all severe cases, from the fact of the results apt 
to follow* but with care and thoughtfulness on the 
part of the parent, or nurse, much suffering can 
be avoided. If a physician cannot be had begin 
with your home treatment; give the following rem- 
edies: 

Indications: For dry, hot skin, very quick pulse, 
dark redness of fauces (or throat), Aeon. 3.x. For 
great debility from the beginning, the membrane 
assumes at once a dirty grayish color; puffiness 
around the eyes, with pain in the ears when swal- 
lowing; itching, stinging eruptions on the skin, 
numbness of feet and hands, Apis. 3.x. For great 
dryness of the throat, tonsils bright red and swollen. 
swallows with great difficulty, very restless; drowsy, 
but cannot sleep; starts from sleep, jumps up sud- 
denly; congestion to the head, with sudden pain, 
Bell. 3.x. With dark membrane in throat, offen- 
sive breath, dry, brown tongue, little or no thirst. 



120 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

oppressed breathing from pulmonary congestion, 
throat feels sore and contracted, prostration, chilli- 
ness of lower limbs and back, with hot face, fever 
at night, Baptisia 1.x. For large yellow deposits 
all around the posterior walls of the pharynx, 
which is ulcerated and sloughing; very quick pulse, 
flashes of heat, frequent sinking spells, dryness of 
throat, slowly progressing cases, Sulph. 2.x. For 
ulceration of throat, with large exudations, thick, 
grayish, or yellowish, sticky and tenacious; swal- 
lowing very difficult, liquids run out of the nose, 
excessive paleness, Sulph. acid 3.x. Prepare in 
the usual way, take according to severity of case, 
and continue until relieved. 



EEYSIPELAS (ST. ANTHONY'S FIEE). 

Cause.— Exposure to cold, impaired digestion, 
wounds, particularly from dissecting and surgical 
instruments; badly ventilated and over-crowded 
apartments, certain conditions of the atmosphere 
and a morbid state of the blood from disease, the 
habitual use of stimulants, etc., and consequently 
debility. The tendency of the disease is to attack 
different parts of the body simultaneously, which 
furnishes us with evidence of its origin in a bad 
condition of the blood. The chief existing cause 
of erysipelas is a recent wound, and the predispos- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 121 

ing cause is inattention to the laws of health, com- 
bined, perhaps, with a personal or family tendency 
to the disease. Erysipelas is known by its inflam- 
matory redness of the skin and its rapid tendency 
of spreading overthe body, with considerable puffy 
swelling, tenderness, painful burning, tingling and 
tension. The color varies from a faint red to a 
dark red or purplish color, becoming white under 
pressure, but returning to its former color on the 
removal of the pressure. An attack is usually ush- 
ered in with shivering, languor, headache and nau- 
sea, bilious vomiting with the ordinary symptoms 
of inflammatory fever, accompanied or followed by 
inflammation of the parts affected. When erysip- 
elas attacks the face, it nearly always commences 
at the side of the nose near the angle of the eye. 

Remedies and Treatment. — Applications, ex- 
ternally used, should, always be put on warm, what- 
ever form the disease may assume; cold applica- 
tions should never be made, as they interfere with 
the free circulation of the blood and the nutrition 
of the part; and they always increase rather than 
diminish the extent of the severity. 

There are many kinds of treatment, but we will 
give only those adopted by the author, which, in 
every case, have proved to be the most successful. 

A poultice made from cranberries, stewed and 
cooked in the usual way, applied blood-warm, is a 
very valuable remedy for outward application. If 



122 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

these are out of season, the next best remedy is a 
decoction of strong tea made from the inner bark 
of the burr-oak tree; use this to make a bread poul- 
tice, and apply it. Also the sulphite of soda, half 
an ounce to a pint of tepid rain-water; dissolve 
well. A cotton cloth wet in this and laid over the 
affected part, one thickness, and kept wet by chang- 
ing. The cloth should be thoroughly washed in 
clean water before putting it back in the soda water. 
Also hamamelis (the witch-hazel) used in the 
same way as the soda solution; use full strength. 
Then again, I have used a gill of good brandy 
with the juice of two lemons added. Keep the af- 
fected parts well moistened with either of the rem- 
edies till the inflammation is well subdued. We 
have always been successful with these remedies 
used in this way. Sometimes we alternate two of 
these until the inflammatory action is entirely un- 
der control. 

But this disease must be taken in time. It will 
not do to postpone the treatment for one moment, 
as it is very dangerous. 

For the internal treatment we use the following 
prescription: 

Muriate tincture of iron 3 drachms. 

Diluted carbolic acid _ i drachm. 

Fluid ext. baptisia-tinctoria (wild 

indigo) 1 drachm. 

Glycerine sufficient to make a four-ounce mixture. 

Dose, teaspoonful every two hours. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 123 

If it is facial erysipelas, with much fever, it should 
be controlled by the mother tincture of belladonna 
and aconite. They can be procured at the homoeo- 
pathic pharmacy. Give 10 drops of each in a half- 
tumbler of water; mix well. 

Dose, teaspoonful every hour if the fever be 
high, and the iron mixture every three hours, till 
the fever is controlled. 

Keep the bowels open by injections of salt and 
water, as described in other pages of this book. 
This treatment will do good service. 

HOMOEOPATHIC TKEATMENT. 

We accept the above external treatment and will 
only add a few remedies to be taken internally. 
When the left side of the face is affected, painful 
when laughing, with sensation as if covered with a 
cobweb, Borax 1.x. 

Chronic disposition of the disease to return. 
from right to left; phlegmonous of head and face, 
with burning, tingling pains; swelling and indu- 
ration of lymphatic glands, very liable to take cold 
from the least exposure, Graph. 2.x. 

For extreme tenderness and painfullness on pres- 
sure, with tendency to the formation of serum, the 
swelling hot, hard, shining, even deep red: patient 
feels nervous, cannot stand pain; feels tired as 
after hard work or as if beaten. 



124 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Arn. 3.x. — (This remedy is excellent for exter- 
nal applications.) For itching all over, especially 
on hairy parts after scratching; burning, swelling 
and redness of the face, with partial or entire clos- 
ure of the eyelids; bruised feeling in the limbs 
and back, tendency to attack the brain, dark red- 
ness of the parts. Prepare as before stated, and 
give according to symptoms; as the patient is re- 
lieved prolong the intervals. 



DYSENTERY OR BLOODY FLUX. 

This distressing disease, of all others, may be 
controlled and cured by very simple methods, if 
not let run too long, till it becomes chronic. The 
first thing to be done in diarrhea is to stop all 
kinds of food, except the beef extract, milk punch, 
oatmeal water and mush, as described on pages 17,, 
19, 20 and 22. Slippery elm, or flax-seed tea made 
from the water off oatmeal, used as injections after 
each evacuation from the bowels, are not to be 
omitted. About two tablespoonfuls at a time, or 
as much as can be retained for a while. Bilious 
persons, having the obstinate form of this disease, 
will find great virtue in the following prescription : 

Turkey rhubarb and willow charcoal (pulverized), 
of each one tablespoonful. 

Of saleratus, a piece as large as a hazel-nut. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 125 

(The charcoal, put up in bottles, can be had at 
the drug store. 

The hydrastis (golden seal), half a teaspoonful. 

Add these ingredients to a tumblerful of water, 
stir well; let it stand covered twelve hours; after 
thoroughly stirring it, the liquid will be ready for 
use. 

Dose, teaspoonful every four hours during the 
day. 

Always remember this, never wake the patient 
to take medicine. Sleep will do more good than 
any medicine can. We cannot impress upon you 
too strongly the value of magnetism. In restoring 
health to the system, not only in this, but every dis- 
ease, especially in stomach and bowel troubles, the 
will is a very powerful physician. Therefore, do not 
fail to avail yourself of his skill and beneficence. Al- 
ways keep the feet warm and dry. Always sleep 
with your mouth closed, that the air may pass 
through the nostrils into the lungs, making it more 
pure and magnetic, therefore more energizing to 
the system, and thank the Universal God of 
Nature that in Him you " live, move and have a 
being," and your face will soon shine with glad- 
ness, your cheeks will blush with intensified vigor. 

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

This disease is very annoying both to patient 
and physician, hence it requires the greatest care. 



126 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

The surroundings should be considered; everything 
obnoxious removed; pure air and perfect rest are 
the best remedies; prompt removal of all evacua- 
tions; use carbolic acid or other disinfectants; light 
diet is best — cream, mutton broth, gruel made from 
the different grains, toast water; nice ripe fruit is 
not injurious. Use the following: Rem. Aeon, 3.x. 
Chill and fever, 12 to 15 drops in half glass of water; 
give every 30 minutes. Merc. corr. ; 6.x. Autum- 
nal dysentery cool nights, excoriating discharges, 
burning pain, green slime and blood. Aloes 3.x. 
Hemorrhoids, violent tenesmus, fullness of abdo- 
men, pain both before and after stool. Give as 
above. Bry. 3.x. If pain be worse on motion, 
prepare the same, take every hour. Collonsynthis 
6.x. Colic pains, with stools like beef washings, 
bitter taste in the mouth, great desire for cold 
drink; give same. Ham. 3.x. Blood copious in 
the discharge, very dark red; prepare same and 
take every hour. Sulph. 6.x, Chronic, bloody 
stool; take every hour. Ipecac 3.x. Nausea and 
vomiting, brought on by eating green fruit; pre- 
pare and give same. 



DIARRHEA. 

Bowel complaint occurs every summer, and often 
proves fatal to young children. It has been 
thought eating fruits was the cause, as it generally 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 127 

occurs at the time fruits are ripening and being 
gathered. But we think ripe fruit, if perfectly 
sound and fresh, will do no harm in most cases; 
while we believe that half-ripe or decayed fruits 
or vegetables are very unwholesome, and little bet- 
ter than poison. It requires good judgment to man- 
age successfully all diseases of this kind, and no 
person, ignorant of medicine, should ever tamper 
with the life of a child by experimenting. Neither 
should they delay, with the hope of the child get- 
ting well itself. Delays and ignorance in the 
management of such diseases have been the cause 
of many deaths. In many cases, where it is allowed 
to run too long, very serious complications mani- 
fest themselves and are not easily controlled. But 
it is your duty to commence at once with proper 
food and simple remedies, such as described on 
pages 19, 20 and 21. This will do no harm, and 
many times will cure the case in two or three clays. 
But if there be no change in that time, you should 
consult your physician at once; he will tell you 
the treatment was good, and will not order you 
to change the diet. 

HO MYOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

This is a very common disease in summer, espe- 
cially among children; but if attended to in time 
by the parents or nurses, little is required. Take 
good care of the little one, keep it clean, and uive 



128 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

it healthy food; nature will take care of the rest. 
In case medicine is needed, we will give yon a few 
remedies: 

Aconite 3.x. in early stage. Bry. 3.x., when it 
appears from sudden changes in the weather. Cal. 
carb. 3.x., for teething children. China 6.x., great 
prostration. Cam. 3.x., diarrhea with colic pains. 
Phod. 6.x. , where there is frequent changes in the 
color of the discharges. Baptisia 2.x., stools green 
and very offensive. Alternate with Gels. 3.x. 



! 



CHOLERA MORBUS. 

Cholera Morbus begins with violent purging and 
vomiting, attended with griping in the bowels, 
with a constant desire to go to stool. It comes on 
suddenly, and is most common in autumn. There 
is scarce any disease more fatal and rapid than this, 
when proper means are not used in due time. 

Cause. — It is occasioned by a redundancy, and 
putrid acrimony of bile; food that easily sours on 
the stomach, as butter, fat pork, sweetmeats, pies 
and cakes, apples or melons, cherries, cucumbers, 
etc. It sometimes proceeds from poisonous sub- 
stances taken into the stomach. It may likewise 
proceed from a violent passion or affection of the 
mind, such as fear, anger, etc. 

Symptoms. — It is generally preceded by heart- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 129 

burn, sour belching from the stomach and flatu- 
lency, with pain in the stomach and entestines. 
These are followed by excessive vomiting and purg- 
ing of green, yellow and blackish-colored bile, with 
distention of the stomach, and violent griping 
pains. There is great thirst, and often a fixed pain 
about the region of the navel. Sometimes a cold, 
clammy sweat. As the disease progresses the pulse 
becomes almost imperceptible, the extremities grow 
cold, the urine is obstructed, there is palpitation of 
the heart. Violent hiccoughing, fainting and con- 
vulsions are the signs of approaching death. 

Remedy. — Under the head of Recipes and Pre- 
scriptions you will find the author's remedy, and 
how to use it. 

"We will also give one of the old prescriptions, 
which, we have no doubt, is very good. Keep 
your patient warm. Feet and extremities should 
be wrapped in dry, hot blankets, hot irons and jugs 
of hot water kept to the feet and limbs; mustard 
draft to the stomach till the skin is quite red; and 
give the following: 

Ground black pepper, one tablespoonful. 

Table salt, one tablespoonful. 

Hot water, half tumblerful. 

Cider vinegar, half tumblerful. 

Mix. 

Dose, one teaspoon ful every few minutes till the 
whole is taken. 

a 



130 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

It is said this may be relied upon in curing chol- 
era morbus, and also genuine cholera. 

First dose may be vomited up; if so, repeat. 
Stir the medicine well each time. 

HQMCEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

This disease appears suddenly, from various 
causes, and needs prompt attention. Use hot ap- 
plications on the abdomen (dry heat the best). 

After eating ice cream and rich food, Arsen. 3.x. 

With colic pains, drawing one double, Coloc. 6.x. 

From sudden fright, Opi. 6.x. 

Vomiting of sour food or acid, Ipecac 3.x. 

Diarrhea, with whitish, watery, slimy stool, 
without pain; quiet delirium or stupefaction, Phos. 
acid 6.x. 

Pale face, eyes sunken, dry, yellowish coating on 
the tongue, great thirst, heat and burning in the 
abdomen, Secale, cor. 3x. 

Yerat. Alb. 3.x. — Pale, death-like expression of 
the face; tongue dry, blackish and cracked; un- 
quenchable thirst for cold drinks, excessive vomit- 
ing of the ingesta with green mucus, also black 
bile; great weakness after vomiting; severe, cutting 
pains in the abdomen; violent diarrhea, with green- 
ish, watery, flocculent stools, followed by rapid 
prostration; cramps in the calves; small, almost 
imperceptible pulse; hoarse, weak voice and cold 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 131 

breath; cold sweat over the whole body; 10 to 15 
drops in half glass of water. Dose, teaspoonful 
every 15 to 30 minutes until relieved. The above 
remedies prepared and taken in the usual way. 



BILIOUS OE CRAMP COLIC. 

Many persons are subject to this distressing dis- 
ease and suffer for hours without obtaining relief, 
when it is the simplest thing to cure in the world. 

Take of the fluid extract of Dioscorea villosa 
(wild yam) 30 drops, in about one swallow of hot 
water, at a dose; repeat it in 30 minutes if neces- 
sary. In the meantime take one pint of warm wa- 
ter, add half teaspoonful of salt, stir till dis- 
solved, and inject slowly into the bowels with a 
syringe. Retain it as long as possible. This will 
evacuate the bowels in less than 30 minutes, and 
you will get prompt relief. 

HOMCEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

Added to the above we would prescribe hot ap- 
plications externally, either dry or wet; the hand- 
iest thing is to take the stove griddle or a hot 
plate wrapped in a cloth and apply to the abdomen. 
Internally give Coloc. 6.x., 12 drops in half glass 
of water. Dose, teaspoonful every half hour till 
relieved. This remedy is strongly indicated where 
severe cramps exist, drawing one double. 



132 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Aloes 3.x. — Especially for elderly people, with 
intense griping pains accross the lower portion of 
the abdomen; cold perspiration and extreme pros- 
tration. Prepared and taken as above. 



CRAMP IN THE PIT OF THE STOMACH. 

Severe, pinching, gnawing or contractive pains in 
the stomach, generally occurring after taking food. 

Cause. — Highly seasoned or indigestible food; 
stimulants, coffee and tobacco; long fasting, expos- 
ure to cold or damp, etc. It is usually but a symp- 
tom of indigestion. 

Remedy. — Most forms of this difficulty can be 
cured in a few minutes by very simple means: 

Take a teacupfal of hot water, add a heaping 
tablespoonful of sugar. Drink it slowly, and hot 
as possible. In some cases it may be necessary to 
repeat the dose in twenty or thirty minutes; but 
seldom more than one dose will be needed. 

Another means is, place a mustard poultice on 
the stomach and allow it to remain till considera- 
ble redness is produced; follow this with a hot 
fomentation of hops or tansy. If it should oc- 
cur in the night, apply friction over the stomach. 
Rubbing with the hand, with an active will, until a 
high degree of heat is produced; this will often af- 
ford effectual relief. However, the patient subject to 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 133 

these conditions should shun all articles of food 
which excite attacks of this kind, and live on plain, 
easily-digested food, spend his time in the fresh air 
and sunlight, and take regular active exercise. 

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

Following the above treatment to restore the 
health to its normal condition, use Canth. 6.x., 
Puis. 30.x., Arsen. 3.x., Nux Yom. 12.x.; 10 drops 
to usual amount of water. Dose, teaspoonful 
every half or one hour. Either of these remedies 
can be taken separately, or used in alternation if 
desired. For permanent relief these remedies 
should be continued for several days, preparing 
fresh each day. 



FEVERS. 



In fevers the nurse should understand how to 
manage the patient and subdue the fever before it 
gets to such a degree as to become threatening and 
dangerous. Here is where the tepid sponge-bath 
is practicable. Part of the body can be gone over 
at a time, beginning at the head; cover the body as 
you go. This treatment can be repeated every 
hour while the fever lasts, taking care that you do 
not sponge the patient after the fever has abated. 



134 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

There is never any danger of taking cold in giv- 
ing a bath during the fever. 

Remember, in all cases, the head should be kept 
cool by bathing it with water. This can be re- 
peated often ; at the same time the feet and lower 
extremities should be watched closely and kept 
warm with hot irons, jugs of hot water, or wrap- 
ped up with hot flannels. Follow these rales 
closely and nearly every case can be controlled, and 
the patient made much better in a short time. 

RULES TO OBSERVE. 

Rule 1. — Fever patients should have nutritious 
food to keep up and sustain the vital forces. It 
should consist of beef extract, chicken or mutton 
broth, milk punch, etc., made as directed on pages 
17 and 22. The food should be given at intervals, 
from two to three hours, little at a time. Great 
quantities of food are not required when sick. 
Never disturb or wake your patients to give them 
medicine or food, unless they are under the influ- 
ence of narcotic medicines; for sleep will do more 
good than medicine. Watch them closely, and 
as soon as they wake be ready to give the medicine 
with the least disturbance, that they may become 
quiet and go to sleep again. 

Rule 2. — See that the room is well ventilated. 
If it is winter, the room should be kept 60 or 70 
deg. Farenheit. In summer there is not much dan- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 135 

ger of cold air, if you have clothes to regulate 
the temperature of the body. The lungs should 
have fresh air and plenty of it. 

Rule 3. — Do not go from the cold air to the bed- 
side of the sick, especially if the patient be in a 
perspiration, or has rheumatism; the skin is very 
sensitive; you had better wait in another room till 
you get warm. No one has any idea of the pain 
and suffering of this disease unless they have had 
it themselves. Every joint is racked with pain, 
and the least touch adds to the suffering. Even 
the banging of a door, the shutting of a window, or 
the squeaking of a shoe is but adding agony to the 
patient, and should be avoided. 

Rule 4. — Do not have old bottles sitting around. 
When you are through with the medicine, wash 
out your bottles and set them away. Medicines 
should never be kept for future use, for the same 
kind is seldom ever required again, 

Rule 5 — To change the dress of patient. — 
Much distress is often caused by not properly un- 
derstanding how to proceed to get the arms in and 
out of the sleeves. If the disease is likely to con- 
tinue, rip the sleeves open, then tack on some 
strings so they can be tied. This will not injure the 
garment, and it can be sewed up again wlien 
needed. 

Rule 6. — There is a secret in handling a broken 
bone or sore limb. Never take hold with the ends 



136 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

of your thumb and finger, as though' you were 
afraid of it; but take a firm grasp, or slip your 
hand under and let the limb lie in the palm, then 
support it with your thumb and finger. All nerv- 
ous handling produces fear, while the firm grasp 
and steady nerve of the attendant quiet the patient. 



SCAELET FEYEE. 

Children are far more liable to contract this dis- 
ease than adults, as few of the latter ever have it, 
even when exposed. The interval between the ex- 
posure and the attack varies from two to five days 
to three weeks, and patients have been known to 
have an attack without exposure, when it is pre- 
vailing in the neighborhood. 

General Symptoms. — Scarlet fever usually com- 
mences very suddenly, with the usual prodroma 
of fever, chills and shivering, succeeded by hot 
skin, nausea, sometimes vomiting, with rapid 
pulse, thirst, frontal headache, and sore throat. 
The last named symptom is generally the earliest 
complained of by the patient. In about forty-eight 
hours after the occurrence of these symptoms, the 
characteristic rash is perceptible, first on the breast, 
from whence it generally extends and spreads all 
over the body. These eruptions are bright-red 
points or spots, which have been compared, by 
some writers, to look like a boiled lobster shell. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 137 

These spots either run together and diffuse them- 
selves uniformly over the skin, or else appear in 
large, irregular patches on different parts of the 
body. The color of the skin disappears on pres- 
sure, but returns on its removal. The appearance 
of the tongue is characteristic; it is first coated, the 
tips and edges are red ; the papillae are red and 
somewhat raised; afterwards the tongue cleans off 
and looks very red and raw. A diffused redness, 
sometimes of a dark scarlet color, covers the mouth, 
etc., which disappears as the febrile symptoms and 
rash subside. About the fifth day the rash begins 
to decline, and entirely disappears about the eighth 
or ninth day, leaving the patient in a very weak 
condition. The process of peeling off the cuticle is 
varied in its duration; it takes place in the form 
of scurf, from the face and trunk, but from the 
hands and feet large flakes are separated, sometimes 
coming away like a glove or slipper. 

This is a very dangerous disease, and should 
have prompt attention. We advise you to send for 
your physician, as it is apt to be followed by seri- 
ous complications; do not attempt treatment your- 
self. The external treatment is the most essential, 
no matter what the complications are, and it is 
called for in every case, and your family physician, 
if he be an intelligent one, will not object, for it will 
not interfere with his internal treatment. This be- 
ing a cutaneous disease, the battle-ground must 



138 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

be fought upon the surface; hence we should advise 
you by all means to give a warm sponge-bath every 
night, followed by greasing the entire body with 
an uncooked piece of bacon — in severe cases always 
bind thin slices of it upon the neck, breast and 
soles of the feet. We urge this treatment upon 
you, as it is called for and highly effectual. If at- 
tended to promptly it will scarce ever fail to cure 
the patient with but little other treatment. 

HOMCEOPATHIO TKEATMENT. 

This disease, that rages as an epidemic among 
children, is dreaded, and well it may be, for it is 
very dangerous and should never be allowed to 
run long without attention. Much depends upon 
the care and surrounding conditions. The follow- 
ing remedies may be usee? 

Indications: — Dry, hot skin, full, frequent pulse, 
great restlessness, violent thirst before the erup- 
tions make their appearance, Aeon. 3.x. 

Severe headache, with red face, very drowsy, 
muttering delirium, Bell. 3.x. Alternate with the 
above remedy 10 drops in half glass water. Tea- 
spoonful every hour. 

Fever of typhoid character; tongue of deep red 
color, nose discharging a thick, white, fetid mu- 
cus; itching and burning all over the body, Apis. 
3.x. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 139 

Where the eruption is delayed or grows pale, 
w T ith rapid prostration; putrid sore throat; intense 
thirst with internal heat and external coldness; 
fetid diarrhea, Arsen. 3.x. 

Protracted cases, glands of the neck are swollen 
and hard, throat greatly inflamed. v This remedy is 
especially indicated in children with scrofulous 
diathesis. Cal. carb. 3.x.; 10 to 15 drops to half 
glass of water. Dose, teaspoonful every half to one 
and two hours, according to severity of the case. 



INTERMITTENT FEVER. 

This disease is commonly called fever and ague, 
or chills and fever, as the name implies. It is too 
well known by the people to need any description. 

It is distinguished by the physicians under the 
following names: Quotidian, if the chill and fever 
return every day; Tertian, if it comes on every 
third day; Quartan, if it comes every fourth day. 
The length of intervals determines the variety of 
ague, and when these varieties duplicate, they are 
called double Quotidian, etc., etc. 

This disease should not be allowed to run long, 
but should have prompt and efficient treatment at 
once, as it is liable to run into a chronic form and 
the liver, spleen and kidneys become seriously af- 
fected, and sometimes dropsy the result. We have 



140 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

no doubt that this disease has caused more trouble 
to the old-school physicians to control and cure 
than all other fevers combined; yet it is the most 
simple and easy to cure, and we will guarantee a 
cure every time without the use of quinine, either. 
Here is the prescription and treatment: 

Fluid extract of Grindelia squarrosa. 

Fluid extract of Eucalyptus globules, of each 
one ounce. 

Fluid extract of Baptisia tinctora, one drachm. 

Fluid extract of Podophyllum peltatum, ten 
drops. 

Glycerine sufficient to make a six-ounce mixture. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful every three hours, for a day or 
so, then three times per day until all is taken. 

During this time you should take three or four 
alcohol sweats (see description of Turkish bath), 
followed each time by brisk rubbing. This treat- 
ment alone will cure this disease. 

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

Arcen. 3.x. — Chill and fever. 
Bry. 3.x. — When the chill predominates. 
China 3.x. — When chill is anticipated. 
Eup. pur. 3.x. — With disposition to run into 
another chill. 

Gels. 3.x. — Where fever runs high. 

Ipec. 3.x. — For nausea and gastric trouble. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 141 

Nat. mur. 3.x. — Grindelia squarrosa, Berberis 
aquifolium, for chronic cases. Prepare and take 
in the usual way. 

PNEUMONIA. 

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs; it is 
predisposed by intense nervous depression, debility, 
or exhaustion. The existing cause is usually the 
effect of cold, damp, exposure, vicissitudes of heat 
and cold, inhalation of irritants, or mechanical vio- 
lence. The usual mode of attack is depression of 
the large aerating surface of the lower lobe of the 
right lung. It may remain there or proceed to 
the left lung, then upward. In all conditions, the 
lungs become engorged from below upwards. 
Pneumonia may be met with in the following 
forms: acute (sudden in its character). If the pa- 
tient has a strong vital force it may resist the local 
irritation. In others whose constitutions are more 
feeble, it may involve both pleura and lungs, and 
both be implicated at the same time. Then again, 
it may be complicated with typhoid. 

Our book is too small to go farther in detail. 
Therefore, we have no room to describe pleurisy, 
only to say our treatment would be much the same 
in both diseases. 

Treatment. — As soon as the disease is recog- 
nized, in either case, the patient should take an 



142 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

alcohol bath and be put to bed. The temperature 
of the apartment should be kept between 65 and 70 
degs. Active cupping should be resorted to over 
the consolidated lung, followed by flaxseed poul- 
tices. The action of warmth and moisture over 
the affected tissues tends directly to increase its 
vitality, as is soon shown by diminished dyspnoea, 
the breath being drawn more easily. Even inter- 
costal movement can be detected. The poultice 
should be made of linseed meal, because it keeps 
moist longer; it should be fully half an inch thick, 
spread on flannel sufficiently large to cover the 
affected part. The poultice should be changed every 
two hours, as the heat of the body will soon dry it. 
As the symptoms change for the better, change the 
poultice for that of compresses. Take a towel, 
wring it dry from tepid water, a little salt added, 
and apply to the chest. Change it often. Lay a 
dry towel over the wet one. This will prevent the 
underclothing from getting damp. Remember, 
you should keep the feet hot and moist by spong- 
ing them with water as hot as can be borne, and 
give the following prescription as internal treat- 
ment: 

Fluid extract of Asclepias tuberosa 
(pleurisy root) half drachm. 

Fluid ext. CoH'msonia (stone root) -half drachm. 

Fluid ext. Lycopus virginicus (sweet 
bugle weed) half drachm. 

Wat er three and a half ozs. 

Mix. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 143 

Dose, teaspoonfal every one or two hours. 

If there is much congestion of blood to the head, 
give 

Tincture of belladonna, 10 to 15 drops. 

In half tumbler of water. 

Dose, teaspoonful every hour; alternate with the 
above medicine, making fresh every day. 

With this treatment followed you will be aston- 
ished to see how your patient will rally from this 
dreaded disease. 

Pleurisy can be treated in the same way with 
success. 

How different this treatment from the old way, 
which was done by bleeding the patient, followed 
by mustard drafts, and blisters all over the breast, 
thus adding more fuel to the already consuming in- 
flammation and heat in the lungs. Their internal 
treatment was veratum, sweet spirits of nitre, calo- 
mel and jalap, carbonate of ammonium, the result of 
which was generally followed by a first-class fun- 
eral in the family. The attending physician was 
always charged with being very attentive during 
the sickness, and had the credit of handling the 
patient very skillfully. 

HOMCEOPATIIIC TREATMENT. 

The most common cause of this disease is from 
cold, and if attended to in time can be easily pre- 



144 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

vented, and the patient spared a long, tedious 
spell of sickness and suffering. 

For external treatment we recommend hot ap- 
plications, either dry or wet, on the chest; soak the 
feet in hot water; put the patient in bed and pro- 
duce free perspiration. Take the following remedies 
as indicated: 

Aeon. 3.x — In first stages. 

Bry. 3.x. — Fever moderate, cough with expecto- 
ration of tenacious mucus. Alternate this with 
the above every hour. 

Phos. 6.x. — In violent cases the stitching pains 
are excited or aggravated by coughing or breathing; 
tightness across the breast. 

\erat. vir. 6.x. — When congestion and inflam- 
mation have fairly set in, high fever, with strong, 
quick pulse; sinking, faint feeling in pit of the 
stomach; constant burning distress in cardiac re- 
gion ; 10 drops to half glass of water. Dose, tea- 
spoonful every half, one, or two hours, as the case 
demands. 



CATAERH. 



This is a terrible disease, which nearly if not 
quite three-fourths of the human family are afflicted 
with, more or less — from the fact few people ever 
dream they have anything but a slight cold or a 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 145 

touch of influenza, until all the mucous membranes 
and air passages are so affected that it has poisoned 
the blood and assumed a chronic form of the most 
distressing and loathsome disease, which seems to 
resist all treatment. The world has been filled 
with more advertisements of quack nostrums, and 
perhaps more money is spent in this way for the 
cure of catarrh than any other disease. Dear 
reader, let us tell you here that all the money you 
spend in this way is worse than useless, for you are 
only injured, or if benefited it is only temporary. 
Catarrh is an inflammation of the mucous mem- 
branes of portions of the air passages, characterized 
by sneezing, watery discharges from the nostrils, in- 
creased secretions from the lachrymal glands, slight 
headache, heavy feeling in the head, chilliness, fe- 
ver, hoarseness, dry cough, sore throat. Sometimes 
it seems to be a drying up of all the secretions, the 
air passages all stopped up, with loss of appetite 
and feeling of lassitude. 

Different names are applied to it, as it affects 
the schneiderian membrane — catarrhal cephalgia, 
when it affects the frontal sinus; bronchitis, when 
the stress falls upon the trachea and bronchial 
tubes. Catarrh, properly speaking, affects the 
mucous lining of the nose and throat, and is ex- 
tremely prevalent and intractable. People of a 
strumous diathesis are most liable to this form of 
disease; hence, we find it of a low chronic type, 
10 



116 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

requiring specific treatment. If the catarrhal in- 
flammation has been violent in scrofulistic patients, 
ulceration is the result. 

The peculiar influences which originate catarrh, 
affect, primarily, the organic nerves which supply 
the surface, and through them the system gener- 
ally. Secretions and the circulation in the parts 
are specially deranged; the chief modifications of 
the disease from the constitutional actions are dis- 
turbed, the extent of surface involved becomes 
greater and the grade of irritation proportionately 
increased. 

Treatment.— In acute attacks, an emetic of 
compound powder of lobelia (as described in other 
parts of this book how to prepare), followed by a 
hot air bath, also foot bath. Tincture of aconite, 
given as an arterial sedative, acting freely on the 
secretions, from ten to fifteen drops to a third of 
tumblerful of water; dose, teaspoonful every one or 
two hours, as the case demands. Hot atomized 
vapors to control the local inflammation. Moist 
warmth is a powerful restorer in this disease, to 
the arrested circulation and vital action, the safest 
therapeutic agent we have, because it is direct. 
The warm vapors should be allowed to come freely 
in contact with the inflamed mucous membranes. 
Various agents are used for inhalations with good 
success. We feel partial to the sulphate of hydras- 
tis, or golden seal, as it is called; also, the blood- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 147 

root, or the permanganate potassa. These rem- 
edies are all rapidly absorbed by the mucous mem- 
branes; the warm stream softens and relaxes the 
tissues. There is nothing that acts so promptly as 
the warm atomizers in catarrh. The atomizing 
instruments of the various kinds can be had at 
nearly all drug stores. Following we give you a table 
of remedies to be used and their strength. 

The nasal douche is also an indispensable instru- 
ment; it washes out the air passages and keeps 
them cleansed and prepared to be followed by the 
medicine for the atomizers. For the douche, vari- 
ous remedies are used in alternation. To a quart 
of warm water (as warm as can be borne) half a 
teaspoonful of salt, is an excellent remedy. Chlo- 
rate of potassa, half a drachm to a quart of water, 
is another. The sulphate of zinc, or diluted car- 
bolic acid, used in various strengths, are very use- 
ful. The douche, and how to use it, is too well 
known to take the time to describe it here. 

The dose in the following table is to be added to 
an ounce of distilled water for the atomizing instru- 
ment. There are many remedies used in this way 
but we shall give only those which we have had 
the best success with. We give this variety of 
remedies because we do not know the patient to 
prescribe for him, leaving you to use such ones as 
seem to give the most relief. Then alternate them. 



148 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Sulphate ?f hydrastin 5 to 10 grains. 

Sulphate of baptisin 10 to 20 

Sulphate of iron 1 to 5 " 

Sulphate of sanguinarin 5 to 10 4< 

Tulv. borax 5 to 20 " 

Digitalis .,. _ i to 1 u 

Potassa chlorate 5 to 10 M 

Potassa bromide... 5 to 10 " 

Potassa iodide..- 5 to 10 " 

Potassa permanganate- . . 10 to 20 " 

Salt „ 5to30 " 

Carbolic acid .__._._ lto 7 " 

Bichromate of Potassa 5 to 10 " 

The best of the above is carbolic acid, which 
stimulates, deoderizes and promotes cicaterization 
•of the abraded surfaces. During this treatment we 
will give you a prescription which acts as a blood 
purifier and is of great importance in the cure of 
this disease: 

BLOOD PURIFIER. 

Fluid extract of the Ampelopsis quing (Amer- 
ican ivy). 

Fluid extract of Menispermum (yellow parilla), 
of each half an ounce. 

Fluid extract Dioscorea villa (wild yam root), one 
drachm. 

Fluid extract Podophyllum, pelt (mandrake), 
half a drachm. 

Syrup of stillingia, 

Syrup of dandelion, of each equal quantity, suffi- 
cient to make a six-ounce mixture. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 149 

Mix. 

Dose, tea&poonful three times a day. 

This is one of the best blood purifiers in catarrh- 
al or scrofulistic conditions we have ever used, 
even in syphilitic diseases. If iodide of potassium 
be added two or three drachms, it is still better. 

We have a catarrh snuff we consider the best 
ever in use. We will give that under the head of 
" Recipes." See Index. 

HOMCEOPATHIO TREATMENT. 

Bell. 3.x. — Sore throat and hoarseness, throbbing 
headache, worse from motion; alternate chilliness 
and heat. 

Ipe. 3.x. — Aching pain over the eyes; fluent 
coryza; stoppage of the nose and loss of smell; 
rattling in the chest; oppressed breathing, as of 
asthma. 

Sulph. 2.x. — Fluent coryza of clear water, sore- 
ness and pressure in the throat, as from a lump; 
complete loss of taste and smell; coldness of extrem- 
ities, and chilliness; frequent weak, faint spells; 
great liability to take cold; morning diarrhea. 

Heper. sulph. 2.x. — Sore pains in dorsum, bones 
are sore to the touch. 

Hydra. 12.x. — Thick, tenacious secretions from 
posterior nares, dropping down into the throat. 

Kali. carb. 2.x. — Obstruction o\' the nose, mak- 
ing breathing through the nostrils impossible. 



150 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Cal. carb. 3.x. — Nose red and inflamed, dis- 
charge very offensive, severe pain in the head; 
adapted to persons threatened with phthisis and 
bronchial affections. 

SPECIAL REMEDIES FOR DIFFERENT COLORED 
DISCHARGES. 

For Green Discharge. — Kali. bich. 3.x., Natr. 
carb., Phosph., Puis., Rhus., Lach., Sep., Thuj. 

For Yellow. — Alum, Graph., Mur. ac, Nitr. 
ac, Ljc. 

For Thick, Whitish. — Kali, bich., Merc, Nux. 
vora. 

For Fetid. — Aurum, Graph., ISTitr. ac, Rhus. 

Prepare and take these remedies in the usual way, 
an^ with close observation to hygiene much can be 
accomplished; medicine alone will do but little. 



ASTHMA. 



Asthma is a nervous disease, whose phenomena 
depend upon a tonic contraction of the circular 
muscular fibres of the bronchial tubes. Paroxysms 
induced by direct or reflex mechanism, that is to 
say, the stimulus to contraction may be central in 
the medulla oblongata, or it may be in the pulmon- 
ary or gastric portion of the pneumogastric, or in 
some other part of the nervous system. Asthma 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 151 

has, at the root of it, some central nervous irrita- 
tion, or some peripheral source of it; it may be some 
latent miasma, skin disease, or some organic affec- 
tion of the chest; other causes are merely exciting, 
as moist easterly winds, atmospheric electricity, 
inhalation of irritating substances, as the aroma of 
new mown hay, malaria, damp, variable climate, 
incompatibility of the individual to the location, 
soil, or country where he lives, etc. 

Symptoms. — A fit of asthma is usually preceded 
by headache, sleepiness, and various other causes; 
lassitude, pain in the head, back or limbs, loss of 
appetite, dry, hacking cough, depression of spirits. 
The attack is usually ushered in suddenly during 
the night, with a sensation of suffocation or con- 
striction about the chest, urgent, distressing dysp- 
noea, aggravated by the slightest movement. In- 
spirations short and strong, while the expirations 
are long, labored and wheezing. Great and rapid 
movement of the nostrils, countenance livid and 
bloated, indicative of great distress and anxiety; 
inclined to retain the erect posture, with an intense 
struggle for breath. On auscultation no respiratory 
murmur is audible, but vibrating murmur loud and 
wheezing, or shrill whistling; pulse small and fee- 
ble, eyes staring, anxious countenance; tempera- 
ture of surface falls to 82 deg. Fahr. ; but after a 
while the fatigue causes the skin to pour out 
abundant perspiration, and after a period comes 



152 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

relief; cough with expectoration of ropy, stringy 
mucus. Paroxysm ceases and the patient falls 
asleep. During the intervals of attacks the patient 
usually enjoys good health. It is frightful to any- 
one who never witnessed a person with a spasm of 
asthma; it is not a dangerous disease, by any 
means, but a most distressing one. 

There have been many remedies introduced 
which have, in many cases, afforded temporary 
relief, such as common brown paper soaked in a 
solution of saltpetre, then dried, after which burn 
it in a tight room, that the patient may inhale the 
smoke. Also, drying the leaves of the Jamestown 
weed and smoking them in a pipe or paper. These 
only bring temporary relief. 

Treatment. — When the spasm is on give the 
patient a teaspoonful of the compound tincture of 
lobelia every five minutes until relieved, followed 
with a half drachm dose of bromide potassi- 
um. This will seldom fail to relieve the bron- 
chial spasm ; but the final cure of asthma lies in 
the constitutional treatment in the intervals of the 
attack, by the use of a nutritious diet, the alcohol 
vapor bath three or four times a week, followed by 
brisk friction with the hands, and regular hygienic 
habits; food easily digested; the dyspeptic condi- 
tion of the stomach must be relieved, and all the in- 
ternal organs put in good condition; the hot air 
bath (see description of bath) will do it if properly 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE, 153 

administered. The cause in all cases should be 
ascertained and the patient placed in a location 
compatible with his idiosyncrasies and close atten- 
tion paid to the general health. 

Excellent results will be followed by using the 
following prescription : 

Fluid extract Grindelia robusta (new 

remedy) half ounce. 

Fluid extract Silphum (rosinweed).. half ounce. 

Tincture of Lobelia seed half drachm. 

Bromide potassa half ounce. 

Hydrocyanic acid, diluted __ 25 drops. 

Extract of malt _ three and half ozs. 

Distilled water sufficient to make a six-ounce mixture. 

Mix. 

Dose, one teaspoonful one hour after each meal, 
and one on going to bed, continued for one week or 
more. 

This prescription, with the constitutional treat- 
ment, will effectually cure this disease. 

HOMCEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

The constitutional and hygienic mode of treat- 
ment of the above we fully agree with, but to ac- 
complish a permanent cure for this distressing 
disease, we have only to add a few of our best 
remedies with their special indications. 

Cal. carl). 3.x. — For chronic asthma, with tight 
breathing and tension in the chest, as if from rush 



154 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

of blood, relieved by raising the shoulders; desire 
to take deep breath, and sensations as if the breath 
remained stopped between the scapulae; the patient 
loses his breath by merely stooping; patient suffer- 
ing with dry cough, especially toward morning; 
15 drops in half glass of water. Dose, teaspoonful 
every hour. 

Grindelia Robusta, 3.x. — Purely nervous asthma 
where inhalation is easy, expectoration difficult; 
fear of going to sleep on account of loss of breath, 
which awakens him. Cardiac asthma, cough from 
reflex causes; chronic bronchitis; 15 to 20 drops in 
half glass of water. Dose, every 30 minutes until 
relieved, then prolong the intervals. 

Ipe. 3.x. — Difficult expiration; violent constric- 
tion of throat and chest; peculiar panting sound; 
gasps for air at the open window; face pale, worse 
from least motion; threatened suffocation, with 
nightly suffocative fits; constant cough raising noth- 
ing, although chest seems full of phlegm; cough 
sometimes followed by vomiting, which relieves; 
12 drops in half glass of water; teaspoonful every 
30 minutes till better. 

Tartar emetic, 2.x. — Especially suitable to old 
people; difficult breathing, and shortness of breath, 
with desire to sit erect; oppression and suffocative 
fits, coming on suddenly, especially in the evening 
or in the morning; mucus and rattling in chest; 
suffocative cough, with violent palpitation of the 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 155 

neart; gasping for breath; 10 to 15 drops in half 
glass of water. — Teaspoonful every 15 to 30 min- 
utes until relieved, then prolong the intervals. 

Kali. phos. 3.x. — Nervous asthma, with depres- 
sion after the most immoderate use of food; sallow 
features, sunken eyes, emaciation; 10 drops to half 
glass of water. Teaspoonful every hour. 

The best results, from our latest experience we 
have found in the two following remedies, given in 
the usual way: 

Symphytum and Myosotis. 3.x. — They seem to 
have the widest range of cure and cover more indi- 
cations than any others. 



NEURALGIA. 

This is a terrible disease which some of the hu- 
man family are afflicted with. Therefore, it is very 
important for those who suffer from it to be pre- 
pared with a few remedies, and with their judicious 
use it is not necessary for one to suffer long. 

Remedy 1. — Take half a teaspoonful of sal-am- 
moniac, and four tablespoonfuls of camphor- water; 
mix. Dose, teaspoonful every ten minutes, until 
relieved; if necessary, increase the dose. 

Camphor-water may be prepared by adding one 
teaspoonful of strong spirits of camphor to half tea- 
cupful of water. 



156 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

One remedy will scarcely ever cure all cases of 
this disease. It is useless to treat it with liniments ; 
fomentations are much better. The sweat bath re- 
peated several times is the most reliable permanent 
cure we know of (see discription of bath). Incase 
you have not these facilities the following treat- 
ment may be resorted to: First. Soak the feet 30 
minutes in hot water, adding a tablespoonful of 
ground mustard, at the same time drinking hot 
ginger tea, or, better still, a tea made from smart 
weed (this is excellent). Go to bed; add a few 
bottles of hot water to the feet and limbs; cover 
with sufficient clothing to produce free perspira- 
tion, keeping it up from 30 to 40 minutes. While 
you are sweating you should rub and scratch your 
body thoroughly, in order to remove the morbid 
accumulation, which is so abundantly secreted in 
the pores of the skin. Then sponge the body with 
tepid water; dry with a towel; then rub briskly 
with the hands for a few moments. With this 
treatment we have never failed to cure the most 
persistent cases. 

HOMOEOPATHIC TKEATMENT. 

With the above external treatment we will add a 
few remedies, to be taken internally: 

Gels. 3.x. Special Indications: Throbbing pain 
in back part of the head, extending through to the 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 157 

forehead and eyes; heaviness of eye-lids, and con- 
fusion of mind. 10 drops added to half glass of 
water. Dose, teaspoonful every half to one hour, 
according to severity of case. 

Acon. 3.x. — Red and hot face; severe pain on one 
side; great fear and anxiety; pains worse at night, 
with great restlessness; prepare as above. 

Bryonia 6.x. — Pressing, tearing, shooting pains, 
worse from motion, feels better when lying on the 
affected side, rheumatic disposition and great irri- 
tability. Prepare as above. Dose, teaspoonful 
every one to two hours. 

Sulphite of nickle. 3.x. — This is anew remedy, 
lately introduced to the profession by Prof. Hale, 
of Chicago, in which he claims for it a specific for 
periodical neuralgia. Prepare and take in usual way. 



SICK HEADACHE. 

This distressing disease has received its name 
from the constant nausea, or sickness of the stom- 
ach, which attends the pain in the head. 

Symptoms. — The pain is apt to begin in the 
morning, on waking from a deep sleep, or after 
sleeping in a closed room, or when some irregular. 
ity of diet has been indulged in several days pre- 
vious. There is an oppressive feeling in the head. 
which gradually increases into a severe pain in the 



158 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

temples or top of the head, followed by a deathly 
sickness at the stomach, with a sense of tenderness 
on pressure, and sometimes vomiting. 

Remedy. — The quickest way to relieve this dis- 
tressing sickness is to empty the stomach at once 
by an emetic, which can be produced by drinking 
. slowly a large quantity of blood-warm water, with 
enough salt to be tasted. This will wash and 
cleanse the stomach of all its morbid contents. At 
the same time you should place your feet in hot 
water; this will induce perspiration, which is highly 
necessar3 T . As soon as the stomach becomes a little 
quiet you can commence drinking lemon water, 
prepared in the following manner: 

Two gills of tepid water, add one teaspoonful of 
oil or the clear juice of lemon; drink every fifteen 
minutes for one hour. Persons of strong constitu- 
tional habits may add more to each dose. We have 
cured hundreds of cases in this simple manner. 
Often in three hours the patient would be as well 
as ever, and could go about his work as well as 
usual. 

More than one-fourth of the female portion have 
experienced sick headache, in a greater or less de- 
gree, ever since salaratus was introduced and used 
as an ingredient in making bread and pastries; and 
the sooner it is dispensed with the less of this affec- 
tion there will be. 

When there is acidity of the stomach two tea- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 159 

spooufuls of pulverized willow charcoal dissolved in 
half teacupful of soda water (baking soda), taken at 
one dose, will cure this form. There are many 
other kinds of headache, arising from other causes 
too numerous to mention. Some are from loss of 
nerve, or vital force, and some are produced by ex- 
cess of mental labor or deep sorrow. These forms 
are readily cured by the magnetic power of another 
person, commonly called Human Magnetism, with 
which most persons are perfectly familiar. 

Human Magnetism is a potent agent in the cure 
of all diseases to which the human body is heir to, 
when properly used. Many physicians are curing 
disease in this way, at the present day, without the 
use of any medicine, and many of them very suc- 
cessful. The author will give you an essay on the 
Philosophy of Human Magnetism in the closing 
chapter of this book. 

HOMCEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

Little need be said on this subject. The best 
and only way to get rid of it is to take care of the 
general health, close attention to diet, plenty of 
out-door exercise, etc. 

It is not a disease, only a symptom, caused by 
some derangement of the system. Usually affects 
those of a bilious temperament. For temporary 



160 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

relief and to assist nature, we will give the follow- 
ing remedies: 

Great tenderness of epigastric region to pres- 
sure; burning heat in stomach; sharp shooting 
pains; vomiting of all food and drink. Arsen. 3.x. 

Congestion of blood to head, with throbbing 
headache; delirium, with desire to escape from 
bed; photophobia (or dread of light). Bell. 3.x. 

When vomiting and nausea are the most promi- 
nent features; bitter green mucus, with slight diar- 
rhea. Ipe. 3.x. 

Face red and bloated; tongue red, clean and 
tremulous; vomiting of sour mucus; constipation 
with hard, difficult stool; always worse in the 
morning. 'Nut. vom, 3.x. 

Great tenderness in region of stomach; intense 
thirst for cold drink, but inability to retain any- 
thing on the stomach; cold extremities; covered 
with cold perspiration; extreme prostration, with 
anguish and fear of death. Verat. alb. 3.x. Pre- 
pare and give in the usual way. Alternate any two 
remedies, if desired. 



DYSPEPSIA. 

Dyspepsia is more than a disease of the •stom- 
ach, and means more than indigestion. The mon- 
ster of civilization. It is a disease of both sexes, 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 161 

all ages, and all conditions. Infants are born with 
it, aged people die with it. Its symptoms are 
legion. Among them are a morbid appetite, acid 
eructations, heartburn, painful fullness, distention, 
or weight of the stomach, nausea, vomiting, ema- 
ciation, colic, constipation, diarrhea, general debil- 
ity, depression of spirits, vertigo, headache, dim- 
ness of vision, sleeplessness, palpitation of the 
heart, slow pulse, coated tongue, fetid breath, dull- 
ness of all the senses, insanity, suicide, etc., etc. 
The seat of the disease is in the central ganglia of 
the organic system of nerves, which preside over 
the secretion of the gastric juice, andgenarally over 
the digestive and assimulative processes. 

The causes, eifects, and relations of dyspepsia 
cover almost the whole ground of pathology; and 
as we have already said, is hereditary. It may 
come from either parent; we have no occasion to 
doubt this, for children take after their parents 
in much less important particulars. The diet of 
the nurse may give an infant dyspepsia. What- 
ever will give the mother or nurse this disease, 
will so affect the milk as to cause it in the child. 
Eating too much food will cause dyspepsia; eating 
too fast, preventing mastication and insalivation; 
eating hot food and hot drinks enfeeble the stom- 
ach; indigestible food, as new bread, short cakes, 
pastry, sweetmeats, pickles, and greasy meats, and 
all that sort of thing. We exhaust the power of 
11 



162 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

an organ if we overtask it, and cause disease. All 
spirituous and narcotic beverages, tea, coffee, and 
alcoholic drinks, and above all, tobacco — by its di- 
rect action upon the nervous system, by its acrid, 
irritating character, and the constant excitement 
of the salivary glands and waste of this secretion 
by the excessive spitting of the smoker and chewer. 
Any kind of exhaustion, either mentally or phys- 
ically, eating a hearty meal, then take violent ex- 
ercise, or get excited by joy or grief, and digestion ' 
is suspended, When the process of digestion be- 
gins, the vital power gathers around the digestive 
organs. The blood goes to the stomach. Now, if 
this be drawn off or divided, the work is badly 
done, the blood is poor and half vitalized; poor 
blood makes poor gastric juice, poor gastric juice 
makes poor blood, and so it goes on in a progres- 
sion of badness. Added to all these causes, is ex- 
haustion from amativeness, solitary or social; and 
yiou are near the root of evil. This list might be 
prolonged to an indefinite extent, but space forbids, 
and we proceed to give the treatment. 

Treatment. — Diet is of the greatest importance; 
in every form of this disease it should be regulated 
by the most nutritious and easily digested food, 
such as milk, soups, beef tea, buttermilk, very soft- 
boiled eggs, grains of all kinds, and good, ripe 
fruit. Both food and drink should be taken in 
small quantities. Active exercise in the open air, 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 163 

with cheerful mental occupation inculcated, with 
perfect regularity of habits. In the majority of 
cases the cutaneous system is more or less involved, 
and it is highly essential that it should be attended 
to by the hot air bath, followed by the most vigor- 
ous rubbing of the body. (See description of bath). 
The following prescription for internal treatment 
will greatly assist in a permanent cure: 

Fluid extract of columbo root half ounce. 

Fluid extract of tag-elder „... half ounce. 

Diluted Phosphoric acid . _ three drachms. 

Syrup of wild cherry 

Syrup of lemon, of each sufficient to 
make a six-ounce mixture. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful after each meal, and one on 
going to bed. 



& 



HOMCEQPATHIC TKEATMENT. 

The above external treatment is very necessary, 
and should be followed with great perseverance ; 
much depends upon the condition the surface of 
the body is in. If the hot air bath is not obtaina- 
ble, the sponge bath will act as a substitute; use 
tepid water, add a little salt; dry and rub briskly 
with the hands; in connection with this treatment 
we will give a few special remedies for internal 
use: 

Amrnon. mur. 3.x. — Lymphatic subjects, with- 



164 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

out energy; all mucous secretion increased and re- 
tained; little eructations, thirst for acids, regurgi- 
tation of food, hawking up of sour mucus; nausea 
after each meal, heat and fullness of the stomach; 
bloatedness of the abdomen, distress immediately 
after each meal. 

Allium, sat. 3.x. — Long standing dyspepsia, es- 
pecially in old, fleshy people whose bowels are dis- 
turbed by the slightest deviation from the regular 
diet; copious flow of saliva after eating; belching 
or heartburn after every change of diet. 

Arsen. 3.x. — Dyspepsia, with heartburn and 
gulping up of acid, burning fluid, which seems to 
excoriate the throat; red and irritated tongue, 
which feels heated and rough; burning heat in the 
stomach and abdomen; nausea and vomiting, es- 
pecially after drinking cold water; desire for food, 
and still does not feel like eating when set before 
them; sudden weakness, cold extremities. 

Baptisia. 3.x. — Great sinking of the epigastrium, 
with frequent fainting; irritation of stomach, show- 
ing itself by violent pains over the whole cardiac 
region; tongue brown in the center and red at the 
edges; nausea with want of appetite, and constant 
desire for water; general debility, trembling, weak, 
soft pulse. 

Puis. 3.x. — Slow digestion, tongue lined with a 
tenacious, white mucus, slimy and bitter taste, 
feeling of tightness after each meal, so that the 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 165 

clothes must be removed or loosened; sense of pres- 
sure at the pit of the stomach, pain immediately 
after eating. Alternate this remedy with Cal. 
carb., 3.x. ; 10 drops to half glass water. Dose, tea- 
spoonful every hour. 

For pregnant females, Aeon., Arsen., Ferr., Ipec, 
Lach., Phos., Puis., Sep. 

For old people, Baryt. carb., Carb. veg., China., 
Nux vom. 

For sexual abuse, Cal. carb., Merc, cor., Nux 
vom., Phos. acid. 

Staph. — For over-loading or deranging the stom- 
ach, Arsen., Ipec, Nux vom. ; Puis., Carb. veg., 
Lach., Sulph., Bell., China, Merc, cor., Natr. carb., 
Rhus. Prepare and administer in the usual way. 
They can be alternated if desired. 



SORE EYES. 



Chronic or acute sore eyes may be cured easily 
and in the most simple way: Melt a piece of ice, 
put in a vessel, and keep for future use; to a tea- 
cupful of this add two or three grains of salt; it 
should be used warm ; bathe the eyes three or four 
times a day; be sure the hands are clean before 
bathing, to avoid any irritating substance getting 
in the eye; if there be much inflammation, use a 
poultice made from the raw potato scraped very 



166 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

fine, apply on going to bed; a compress of cold 
,^ater is excellent, and many times all that is neces- 
sary; close attention skpuld be paid to the general 
health; never use the same towel the second time, 
nor allow others to use it, as the disease is many 
times transmitted in this way. If only one eye be 
affected, great care should be taken in every way 
not to inoculate the other by using the same towels, 
or handling without washing the hands after treat- 
ing the sore eye. Too much light is not beneficial, 
but plenty of fresh air is all important; they should 
always be protected from the wind and dust. A 
few of our constitutional remedies are all that will 
be required to restore them to their normal condi- 
tion. Cal. carb., Hep., sulph., Graph., SiL, Puis., 
Arsen., Merc, cor., taken in the usual way, only 
prolong the time between the doses. 



PARALYSIS. 



This disease consists of a partial or total loss of 
voluntary motion or sensation; in some cases both 
are destroyed. It usually occurs without coma, or 
loss of consciousness or derangement of the intel- 
lectual powers, unless it be merely a derangement 
of memory. It may be called general when it af- 
fects the whole body; sometimes it is followed by 
apoplexy. It usually appears suddenly, without 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 167 

warning by previous symptoms. Generally one 
side of the body is attacked, and the patient loses 
power of motion and sensation; then, again, only 
.one arm or one leg is affected, and it may extend to 
other parts of the body. 

Cause. — Brain affection, inflammation or effu- 
sion, abscess, softening, or blood poisoning, by 
opium or tobacco; disease of the kidneys, chorea, 
also disease of the spinal chord, excessive sexual 
appetite, masturbation, etc. 

Treatment. — If the patient be young and vigor- 
ous, an active course of treatment should be pursued 
to diminish the pressure on the brain. Mustard 
applied from the extremities to the knees, with 
strict attention to diet and hygiene, bathing and 
frictionizing the body with the hands; this is a 
stubborn disease to deal with, and magnetism is 
the most potent remedy we know of. It will yield 
to magnetic treatment from the loving hand of a 
friend, when all else fails. You must have confl- 
dense and patience with this disease, and treatment 
for it is slow to yield. 

Electricity is also good, but it must be applied 
by one who thoroughly understands the applica- 
tion. 

The following prescription we have found the 
best: 

Oil of olive, one ounce. 

Oil of cinnamon, 

Oil of cloves, of each one drachm. 



168 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Muriate of ammonia, two and a half drachms. 
Aqua opium, 

Alcohol, of each two ounces. 
Water, sufficient to make a four-ounce mixture. 
Mix well. 

Apply this lotion to the affected parts twice a 
day with the hand. Rub well. 

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

We consider the use of electricity and manipu- 
lating invaluable in the cure of this disease; and, 
in addition, will add a few remedies to assist, to be 
taken internally: 

Alumina. 2.x. — Paralysis from spinal disease; 
rheumatic and traumatic paralysis in gouty patients ; 
arms feel heavy, as if gone to sleep; great heaviness 
in lower limbs, can scarcely drag them when walk- 
ing, he staggers, and must sit down; numbness of 
head when stepping, pain in the soles of the foot 
when stepping, as though it were too soft and swol- 
len; great exhaustion of strength, especially after 
walking in the open air, accompanied by yawning, 
stretching, drowsiness, wants to lie down, mistakes 
in speaking, consciousness of his own identity, but 
gets confused. 

Anacardium. 3.x. — Paralysis of single parts. Sen- 
sation of weakness in arms, with trembling numb- 
ness of the fingers, wave-like twitches here and 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 169 

there in the legs, loss of will, cannot contract the 
voluntary muscles, cannot speak, only utters unin- 
telligible words, drinks run out of the mouth, 
pulse slow, body cold. 

Angusturse. 3.x. — Weakness of the whole body, 
as if the marrow of the bones were stiff, affections 
of spinal cord and extensor muscles, twitching and 
jerking along the back like electric shocks, etc., etc. 

Apis. mel. 3.x. — Spinal affecti'on, perfectly pow- 
erless; cannot take hold of anything, has to be fed 
and nursed; shortening of tendons, especially lower 
limbs; amaciated, and cold to the touch, oedema of 
the feet and limbs, effusion of joints, twitching on 
one side of the body, while the other is paralyzed; 
twitching of eyeballs, with general feeling of lassi- 
tude and depression. 

Arsenicum. 3.x. — Especially of the lower limbs; 
trembling of limbs (in drunkards); sensation of 
weakness, as if bruised in the small of the back, stiff- 
ness in spinal column, beginning in region of os. 
coccygis. 

Baryta carb. 3.x. — Paralysis from apoplexy of 
old people, who are childish; sensorium not clear, 
loss of speech, trembling of hands and limbs, great 
weariness, constant inclination to lie down, failure 
of memory. 

Bryonia. 6.x. — Paralysis of limbs, rheumatic and 
gouty pains in limbs, worse from motion and con- 
tact, legs so weak they will scarcely hold him, tot- 



170 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

ter and knock together when walking. 10 drops 
to half glass of water. Dose, teaspoonful every 
half, one or two hours, as the case demands. As 
the patient improves prolong the intervals. Par- 
alysis of the tongue and organs of speech. — First. 
Arn., Baryt., Bell., Caust,, Coca, Dale, Hep., sulph., 
Lach. Second. Aeon., Gels., Hydrast., Stram. Of 
the fingers. — First. Calc., Sec, Sil. Second. Pals.. 
Amb., Cupr. Of the feet and arms. — Arn., Chin., 
Oleand., Plumb., Cina., Bry., Dnlc, Gels. Of the 
Bladder. — Bell., Ars., Canth., Hyos., Lach., Lye, 
Gels., Ergot., Poisoning by Lead. — Cupr. met., 
Opium, Plat. Prepare and give in the usual way, 
every half, one or two hours, as case may require. 



EPILEPSY, 



This is a chronic disease, and consists of periodi- 
cal convulsions, unconsciousness and loss of feeling 
during the attack. This dreadful disease is more 
common than one would suppose, as statistics 
prove that one out of every thousand is subject to it. 

Causes. — Hereditary transmission, intemperance, 
venereal excesses, self-abuse, blows on the head, 
fright, and the effects of heat during hot weather. 

Symptoms. — Warning of the attack occurs, in a 
minority of cases, by headache, dizziness, terror, 
spectral allusions, or the epileptic aura. This is a 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 171 

sensation like a current of air, and begins either in 
a hand or foot, or in the spine, proceeding towards 
the brain. In a large majority of cases the attack 
commences with a violent scream, the patient falls 
down unconscious and convulsions occur. Foam 
ing at the mouth, grinding of the teeth, and biting 
is common; the face becomes bluish-purple, and 
there are erratic, involuntary muscular movements. 
Breathing is generally labored. The duration of 
the fit is from five to ten minutes. The interval 
between the attacks may be from a few hours to 
several months. 

Treatment. — During the intervals the general 
health should be improved with good diet, exer- 
cise in the open air, daily bathing, occasionally va- 
por bath, etc. ; and, above all, we should endeavor to 
suspend the explosion of the nervous system with 
large doses of bromide of potassium in doses from 
ten grains to a drachm two or three times daily, and 
continue until we are able to effect a cure by other 
means. We have had ^reat success in curing 
many cases with the bromide of calcium, the bro- 
mideof ammonium, and bromide of lithium, in from 
one grain doses up to twenty grains, three or four 
times a day. Sometimes we use one, sometimes 
the other. The bromide of calcium is an excellent 
remedy in convulsions of little children during 
dentition and diarrhea or vomiting. It takes the 
place of all other sedatives in doses from one to 



172 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

twenty grains. One grain for every year up to 
twenty, is the standard dose. 

In this disease we have had some happy results 
from the following prescription: 

Camphor water, four ounces. 

Bromide of potassium, one ounce. 

Bromide of ammonia, one-half ounce. 

Potass, bicarbonate, two drachms. 

Tincture of calabar bean, one-half drachm. 

Tincture of belladonna, thirty drops. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful every three hours. 

If the disease is clearly connected with other 
causes, which only give rise to reflex irritation, of 
syphilitic, mercurial, or any other morbid condi- 
tion of the blood, our treatment is always attended 
with decided success. But if the disease depends 
upon exostosis on the interior of the skull, or upon 
some organic disease, we can do but little — only 
mitigate its severity. 

HOMCEOPATH1C TEEATMENT. 

To the above external treatment we will add a 
few remedies that will greatly assist: 

Cuprum. 3.x. — Nocturnal epilepsy, or when the 
fit returns at regular intervals, (menses) beginning 
with a sudden scream; unconsciousness, loss of 
sensibility and throwing the body upwards and 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. lid 

forwards, convulsion commencing at the fingers or 
toes, or in the arms, with coldness of the hands and 
feet; palor and lividity of the face, clenching the 
thumbs, suffocative paroxysms, frequent emission 
of urine; often a sign of feeble muscular action of 
the heart, coldness of hands and feet, etc , etc. 

Camphora. 2.x. — Fits, with stertorous breathing, 
red and bloated face, coma. Early enough given 
it may prevent the fit, or at least, abridge its in- 
tensity and duration. 

Glonoin. 2.x. — Fits accumulate and return daily, 
convulsions from cerebral congestion; stupidity 
and somnolence; alternate congestion of heart and 
head; violent, throbbing pains in the epigastrium. 

Kali. brom. 2.x. — Mental hebetude, slowness of 
expression, failure of memory, confusion, great heat 
in the head, vertigo, dull^ stupid expression. The 
whole body gives up to lassitude. 

Stramonium. 3.x. — Epileptiform spasm; thrust- 
ing the head continually in quick succession to 
the right, continual rotary motions with the left 
arm; pain in pit of the stomach, obstinate consti- 
pation, deep, snoring sleep; risus sardonicus; pale, 
worn-out appearance, with a stupid, friendly look; 
afraid to be left alone; convulsions affecting the 
upper more than the lower extremities. 

Lachesis 3.x. — Characterized by cries, falling 
down unconsciously, foam at the mouth, sudden 
and forcible protusion of the tongue, vertigo, 



174 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

heavy and painful head, palpitation of the heart, 
etc. 

Nux. vom. 6.x. — Spinal epilepsy, with trem- 
bling or convulsive twitching of the limbs; invol- 
untary defectation of urination, rigidity of the 
limbs, pressure on solar plexus renews the attack. 

Silicea. 2.x. Nocturnal epilepsy, especially 

about the time of the new moon, chronic cases, be- 
fore the attack; feeling of great coldness of the left 
sfde of the body, shaking of the left arm; slumber 
with sudden starting; the spasm spreads suddenly, 
undulating from solar plexus up to the brain; vio- 
lent screaming, groaning, tears drop out of his 
eyes, foam before the mouth, afterwards warm per- 
spiration, etc., etc. Alternate this remedy with 
Calc. carb. 10 drops of each to half glass of water. 
Dose, teaspoonful every ope or two hours. 



CATALEPSY. 

This remarkable disease of the brain and nervous 
system is characterized by a sudden deprivation of 
senses, intelligence and voluntary motion, the pa- 
tient retaining the same position during the parox- 
ysm as that held at the moment of the attack, or in 
which he may be placed during its continuance. 
Seizure may last a few minutes, several hours or 
days; attack intermittant, without regard to regu- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 175 

larities of periods, there may be premonitory symp- 
toms, as headache, mutability of temper, yawning, 
vertigo, palpitation, slight spasm of mind, confu- 
sion of senses; but generally appears suddenly. 
The eyes are fixed, either open or shut, pupils di- 
lated. Restoration or recovery occurs suddenly, 
accompanied with sighing, pain or confusion in the 
head, with no recollection of what has transpired. 
No efforts to restore consciousness are effectual. 
Nervous and hysterical women are most liable to 
be affected. Catalepsy differs from ecstacy, som- 
nambulism or clairvoyance in its being associated 
with a diseased condition; the other states being 
produced by voluntary effort. Absence of mind — 
a mild form of catalepsy; mesmerism and spiritual- 
ism also a species. There is little danger in a large 
majority of cases. It may, however, end in apo- 
plexy, insanity or softening. It is often associated 
with some organic affection of the brain. Pre-dis- 
posing causes may be anything that diminishes 
vital power, and increases the susceptibility of the 
nervous system — depressing passions, hereditary 
debility, intense mental debility or labor, nervous 
exhaustion. Exciting causes are violent mental 
applications, mental emotions, fright, terror, sup- 
pression of menses, ovarian troubles, etc., etc. 

Treatment. — This must be alterative, tonic and 
hygienic, and be directed by the general principles 
which govern us in the forms of disease with which 



176 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

it is connected. Usually, we have derived the most 
satisfactory results from alternating hot and cold 
water poured on the nape of the neck from a 
height. Internally give phosphorus, quinine and 
iron 5 alternated with three drops of calabar bean 
every two hours. 

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

It is unnecessary to speak farther on this subject, 
as the above covers all the ground. We can only 
impress upon you the necessity of adhering strictly 
to its teachings, and add remedies that are espe- 
cially called for to aid in restoring the general 
health. 

If caused by anger or vexation, Cham., Bry. If 
caused by fright, Aeon., Bell., Ign., Opii. If by 
sudden joy, Coffea. If by grief, Ign., Phosph. Acid., 
Staph. If by jealousy, Hyosc, Lach. If by sex- 
ual erethism. Can., Plat., Stram. If by disap- 
pointed love, Ign., Hyocs., Lach. If by religious 
excitement, Stram., Sulp., Veratr. alb., China., 
Nux. vom. Use the 3.x. Prepare and take in the 
usual way. 

ST. VITUS' DANCE (CHOEEA). 

This singular disease is recognized by want of 
control of the muscular nerves over the motor, in 
the waking state, which gives rise to irregular, 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 177 

tremulous and ludicrous movements of the volunta- 
ry muscles. It occurs most in girls of feeble consti- 
tutions, of irritable, nervous temperament, between 
the ages of six and fifteen. It is rarely met with 
in boys. 

Cause. — It is from want of harmony between the 
gray and white matter of the cord, or it may occur 
from anemia, dyspepsia, skin eruptions, retarded 
catamenia, constipation, cold, insufficient food, ex- 
cessive loss of blood, pregnancy, disease of the blad- 
der, uterus, or mental emotion, etc. 

Treatment. — This, of all other diseases, has baf- 
fled the skill of more physicians than any other, 
and yet it is more easy and simple to cure, because 
we have, in nearly all cases, found congestion of 
the entire capillary system. Hence, we have di- 
rected our treatment almost entirely to the surface; 
first sponging the body with tepid water, followed 
by anointing thoroughly with goose grease or a 
liniment lotion, which we intend to give under the 
head of Recipes and Prescriptions. After several 
days of this treatment give alcohol sweat baths two 
or three times a week, with brisk rubbing of the 
entire body; magnetism is the all-important rem- 
edy in this disease. The bowels must be kept 
open, and strict attention paid to diet; good, nutri- 
tious food is very necessary. 



12 



178 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

HOMCEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

This annoying disease, affecting a portion of the 
human family, is very tedious, but not difficult to 
cure, with proper treatment. A patient suffering 
from this should have pleasant surroundings, the 
mind should be kept occupied, so as to divert it 
from their own condition; plenty of fresh air and 
sunlight, with the above treatment closely followed, 
will restore the patient to their normal condition. 
To assist and make the cure more rapid we will add 
a few remedies: 

Agricus. 3.x. — Chronic spasms when awake, quiet 
when asleep; spasmodic motion, from simple, in- 
voluntary motions and jerks of single muscles to 
dancing of the whole body; frequent nictitation of 
eyelids, redness of eyes, sensitiveness of the lumbar 
vertebrae, body convulsed, as if a galvanic battery 
were applied to the spine, worse during a thunder 
storm ; itching spots on the skin, idiotic expression 
of face, inarticulate speech, ravenous appetite, but 
difficult deglutition; cervical glands swollen, spinal 
column very sensitive to pressure or to hot sponge, 
weakness and coldness of limbs, skin very rough. 

Cim. 3.x. — From rheumatic and other causes. 

Cupr. 3.x. — Periodical chorea, muscular contor- 
tions, with laughter, grimaces, exaltations, ecsta- 
cies, irregular movements, commencing in fingers 
and toes; better when lying down. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 179 

Scutellaria, 3.x. — Hysteric chorea, nightly rest- 
lessness, with frightful dreams. 

Cina. 3.x. — Movements often commence with a 
shriek; the tongue, larynx, esophagus affected, 
causing a clucking from the throat to the stomach, 
like water poured from a bottle; staring eyes. 

Crocus. 3.x. — Spasmodic contraction of a single 
set of muscles; jumping, dancing, laughing, whist- 
ling, wants to kiss everj r body, epstaxis (or nose 
bleed) of dark stringy blood; changeable disposition, 
from joy to grief. 

Sepia. 3.x. — Uterine chorea, associated with men- 
strual irregularities; eruptions like ring-worms 
around the body; better after the menses are over. 
10 or 15 drops in half glass of water. Teaspoon- 
ful every hour. 

Chorea caused by dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, 
Pals 3.x. and Cal. carb., alternate. 

Spinal Chorea, after the use of allopathic reme- 
dies, with crawling sensation in the parts attacked, 
constipation. Nux. vom., Coca, China., Chell. 

Facial Chorea, arms and legs in constant motion, 
unable to undress without assistance, frontal head- 
ache, grating of the teeth. Mygale., Bell., Hvos., 
China., Nux vom., Sulph. Prepare and give as 
usual. 



180 G-EMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

CHRONIC RHEUMATISM. 

This sometimes follows the acute form, and at 
other times it is a separate constitutional affection, 
coming on quite independent of any previous at- 
tack. This disease is generally very obstinate, 
prone to recur, and often worse at night. In time, 
the affected limbs lose their power of motion, from 
the membranes and joints being affected, the mus- 
cles sometimes become permanently contracted, and 
lameness the result. Usually there is but little 
fever, no perspiration and less swelling than in 
acute. This form is often the result of uncured 
acute rheumatism. It may be limited to one part 
of the body, or extend to several, and it may be 
fixed or shifting. The author's extended experi- 
ence has led us to believe that rheumatism is a dis- 
ease of the blood. Hence, to expect a cure by the 
use of liniments, as is usually supposed, is perfectly 
absurd. However, we often prescribe them for 
temporary relief, until we have time for the action 
of other curative remedies. The cause of rheuma- 
tism in different individuals is varied. In some 
persons it is from an alkaline condition of the 
fluids of the body, but in most individuals it is 
from an acrid condition. 

Hence, the treatment should be varied. In some 
we give the bicarbonate of soda, 10 grains at a dose, 
repeated two or three times a day. In others, 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 181 

we give the diluted muriatic acid, lialf an ounce to 
five ounces of water; teaspoonful in a tumblerful of 
water, and use it as a drink. 

At the same time you can take the following 
prescription: 

Fluid extract of Cimicifuga racemosa 

(black cohosh) ..... 1 drachm. 

Fluid ext. Phytolacca decandra (poke 

root) __. 1 drachm. 

Fluid extract of Colchicum 1 drachm. 

Syrup of ginger 4 ounces. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful every three htfurs. 

Use the following liniment for external use: 

Oil of cedar 1 ounce. 

Oil of sassafras 1 ounce. 

Oil of amber 1 ounce. 

Oil of olive 1 ounce. 

Hartshorn „„ 1 ounce. 

Spirits of camphor _ 1 ounce. 

Spirits of turpentine „ 1 ounce. 

Tincture of laudanum 1 ounce. 

Tincture of capsicum _ 1 ounce. 

Mcohol 1 pint. 

Mix. 

Apply twice a day, and keep the parts well 
wrapped with flannel. 

This treatment, persisted in, with the alcoholic 

sweat bath (see description of bath), taken two or 

three times a week, will cure any ordinary ease. 

The following is a new remedy that is highly 

recommended and published as an effectual cure: 



J 82 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

" Take the common garden celery, cut it into 
small pieces and boil in water until soft. Of this 
liquor let the patient drink freely three or four 
times a day. To use it as an article of diet prepare 
it in the following way: Take new milk, with a 
little flour added; put into a sauce-pan a little nut- 
meg, and simmer gently, serve it warm with toast, 
and this painful ailment will soon yield. " 

Such is the declaration of an eminent physician, 
who has tried it again and again with uniform suc- 
cess. 

After this painful disease is broken up the fol- 
lowing prescription should be used, as it acts 
promptly on the kidneys, carrying the disease out 
of the system. It is also good in any kidney 
troubles: 

Fluid extract of Eupatorium purpu- 
reum (Queen of the Meadow) one and a half ozs. 

Fluid extract of Asclepias tuberosa 

(pleurisy root) 1 drachm. 

Fluid extract of Sanguinaria cana- 
densis (blood root) .... 10 drops. 

Nitrate potass. __ 3 drachms. 

Glycerine sufficient to make a 4-ounce mixture. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful every three hours. 

HOMCEOPATHIO TREATMENT. 

This disease is divided in two forms, chronic 
and acute. It arises from many causes. The saf- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 183 

est and surest way is to begin treatment at its first 
appearance, and, if possible, avoid the dreaded af- 
fliction. In chronic the results are usually serious, 
and complicated with other diseases. The system 
should be kept in a healthy condition and close at- 
tention paid to hygiene, assisted with remedies, as 
indicated in the case. For acute cases we apply 
externally to the parts affected cotton batten, thor- 
oughly sprinkled with powdered sulphur; bind 
closely on to exclude the air; keep the patient 
warm with an even temperature; rub the parts 
gently when the bandages are changed, once or 
twice a day; give internally Aeon. 3.x. — Salicylie 
acid., Arsen., Asclep., Caul.; if the tongue be white 
and slimy, begin with Salicylate of Soda. 

Chronic Rheumatism. — With swelling of joints, 
Aeon., Anti., Apis. Apoc. cann., Asclep. tub., 
China., Calch., Rhus., Ham., Lye, Nux. vom. 

Erratic (or wandering pains). — First. Bry., Nux. 
mosch., Nux. vom., Puis. Second. Arn., Arsen., 
Bell., Plumbum. Sabin., Sep., Sulph. Alternate 
these if desired. 

Rheumatism affected by every change of weather. 
— Bry., Cal. carb., Carb. veg., Dulc, Graph., Lach., 
Merc, Sil., Sulph. Prepare in the usual wax- 
take the same, only in severe cases, then take every 
30 minutes. 



184 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

SPERMATORRHEA. 
(MASTURBATION, OR SELF- ABUSE.) 

Under this title it will be necessary to consider 
Masturbation (or Self- Abuse), Seminal Weakness, 
Sexual Exhaustion, Sterility, etc. 

Masturbation is a name given to a pernicious 
and destructive habit — a discharge of the seminal 
fluids by the stimulus of the virile organs with the 
hand — an act which is revolting to humanity and 
destructive to every feeling and faculty of vigorous 
manhood. The great and good in all ages and na- 
tions of the world, as well as the highest medical 
authority condemn this pernicious, baneful prac- 
tice, as fatal to the vitality of the person, entailing 
on himself a lower type of manhood, and even trans- 
mitting to his posterity a structure so degrading 
that its very constituents are disease, weakness and 
death. In a very large percentage of nocturnal 
emissions and enlarged prostate glands, masturba- 
tion has been the cause. Nationally speaking, it 
exercises a disastrous effect, producing imbecility, 
cerebral disease of every form, placing the person 
lower in the scale of being. But aside from all 
this general type of degeneration, it creates certain 
local diseases, such as inflammation of the prostrate 
glands. This is produced by an unnatural act, be- 
ing an irritant by the retention of semen in the 
ejaculatory ducts, producing inflammation. This 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 185 

invariably takes place when the semen is retained. 
Another very common result is the devitalization 
of the veins of the spermatic cord and testicles, pro- 
ducing a varicose condition of the veins — varicocele 
and circocele. 

Atrophy, or wasting away of the testicles, is also 
a very common sequel. This condition may take 
place at any period. If the practice has been com- 
menced in early life, they do not attain their natu- 
ral size, and even lose the power of secreting semen, 
and thus manhood is gone forever. This effect is 
not on the testicle alone, but upon the whole body, 
which is bent downward, dwarfed and robbed of its 
proper proportions — a perfect arrest of any further 
development. But this subject is inexhaustible 
and we cannot go farther into detail, only to say 
that the critical period of life in this disease is about 
the time of puberty, which varies from the age of 
fifteen to eighteen, when the very rapid growth of 
the generative organs, the increased power and fre- 
quent erections cause the act, which is sure to oc- 
casion the deepest remorse. It is the attention and 
deliberate condition of these facts that explain to 
us how the habitual exercise of the genital organs, 
either by coition or by masturbation, may so far 
get control of the will of the individual. It is 
about this time in life when parents, through an 
ignorant education combined with a false modesty, 
have failed to do their duty by not taking the pre- 



186 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

caution to make confidents of their boys and girls 
by talking to them and explaining to their young 
minds the dangerous period their lives have about 
and are approaching, by warning them against 
such a pernicious, loathsome habit. Parents, we 
warn you, see that you do your duty, and be ever 
vigilant and on the watch, before your promising 
sons are ruined and sent to the mad-house. Do 
you not know that, according to the statistical evi- 
dence we have, three-fourths of the inmates of our 
insane asylums are the victims of masturbation? 
But we cannot follow this subject longer. But we 
wish we had a voice sufficiently loud that the whole 
world might hear our warning upon this subject. 

.Remedy. — First, the habit must at once and for- 
ever be abandoned. Without this there is no 
available remedy, There must be strict attention 
paid to the general health; good nutritious diet — 
beef, mutton, fish, eggs, fruit and vegetables. Xext, 
the mind must be under complete moral control. 
You must not think about such things. Get inter- 
ested in some book, and dwell upon the subject. 
Seek the society of intelligent, cultured men and 
women. You should become interested in the 
stern realities and practicabilities of life. Then, 
and not till then, is there any hope for you. 

Through the day take the following prescription: 

Fluid extract of Xanthoxylum (prickly ash ber- 
ries), one drachm; 

Fluid extract of Gelsemium, half drachm. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 187 

Fluid extract of Hydrastis canad., twenty drops; 

Tincture of Nux vomica, half drachm ; 

Glycerine, four ounces. 

Mix. 

Teaspoonful every three hours during the day 
time. 

If there be nightly dreams, followed by emis- 
sions of semen, use the following prescription: 

Bromide of potassa," three and one-half drachms; 

Hydrate of chloral, three drachms; 

Lemon syrup, three and one-half ounces. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful on going to bed; remember, 
don't take any more than this amount, unless you 
find you do not sleep sound; in that case, take one 
and one-half teaspoonfuls; take it at night only. 

HOMOEOPATHIC TBEATMENT. 

Every function, when in healthy action, is a 
fountain of life and energy to all the rest of the 
system. Thus, the healthy soul gives strength and 
beauty to the body; the brain showers down its en- 
ergy upon the organic system; the organic sys- 
tem nourishes all the organs of animal life; and 
in the same way the generative powers give force 
and spirit to every organ of the body and every 
passion of the soul. It is like the mutual inter- 
penetration and influence of the elements of nature. 



188 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

But when a function is diseased it brings pain, dis- 
order and weakness to every other. Poison the 
brain, and the whole system reels; let disease at- 
tack the stomach or intestines, and life trembles; 
exhaust or disorder in any way the generative 
function, and the whole being suffers. Masturba- 
tion, or the solitary indulgence of amativeness, is 
rather a cause than a disease, and is common to 
both sexes, and those who practice ft are more un- 
fortunate than guilty. Inheriting an excess of 
passionate desire, they fall into this habit, uncon- 
scious of its evil effects. It is an act against na- 
ture; not against reason and conscience, and it 
brings its own punishment. Nature cannot forgive 
such acts; they are unpardonable. There is no 
reason or conscience to govern a child a few years 
old, and many such fall into this habit. In such 
cases, no doubt the disease is hereditary. A dis- 
eased parent has impressed the full force of his sen- 
sual passions upon his child. A mother marks 
her infant with this vice, by having her own ama- 
tiveness excited during the sacred period ot gesta- 
tion. This is not always the cause. In little girls 
it comes by some accident of some uncleanliness, 
or eruption, irritating the parts, and compelling 
the friction, which results in the unnatural gratifi- 
cation. Boys are often abused by ignorant nurses, 
who play with their organs, both to gratify their 
own sensuality and to keep them quiet or please 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 189 

them when they are peevish and fretful. Older 
children, allowed to sleep with servants or children 
already corrupted, are initiated into this practice. 
The desire grows by gratification, and the act is 
accomplished, and indulged in several times a day. 
Boys usually perform the act with the hand; still 
they often resort to other means. Girls have sev- 
eral methods or instruments they use. It is con- 
sidered to be more common with girls than boys. 
If this habit of self-pollution be indulged in for 
any length of time, in boys it will result in invol- 
untary seminal emission, which in itself is a dis- 
ease, and a continued cause of nervous exhaustion 
and final impotency. In girls it causes Leucorrhea, 
or mucous discharge from the vagina, falling of 
the womb, irregular and painful menstruation; a 
loss of all pleasure in the sexual relation, difficult 
and painful child-birth, and a whole train of ner- 
vous and hysterical affections, which make the 
lives of women a burden to themselves and to all 
around them. 

How shall we cure this diseased manifestation, 
and prevent all these horrible consequences, from 
which civilization suffers from center to circumfer- 
ence? Prevention is the all-important thing. AVho 
is responsible? Parents alone, or those in author- 
ity. Every man and woman should endeavor to 
Tiave such perfect control over their own amative 
propensities and manifestation as to avoid giving 



190 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

their children the terrible inheritance of diseased 
and disordered passions. There is no violation of 
nature which brings not its penalty. It is the 
highest duty of parent, nurse, and teacher to watch 
over the child from its infancy with the utmost 
care. As soon as the child is old enough to un- 
derstand any subject whatever, it should be taught 
by its parents the uses and laws of the generative 
function. Were it possible to keep children in ig- 
norance, where can be the use? But it is not. The 
animals and insects will be their teachers, They 
will learn enough of evil, but not enough of good. 
A true, pure, thorough knowledge should be taught 
them from the first. We have seen children who 
were early educated in this direction, and none 
have been more modest, pure, or more capable 
of taking care of themselves. Depend upon it, 
parents or guardians, the best and only safeguard 
to chastity is knowledge. Thousands of innocent 
little ones are ruined from sheer ignorance. The 
boy who has been early instructed is warned and 
armed against it. The girl who understands her- 
self and the laws that govern her being will never 
plunge into solitary debauchery, nor would she be 
seduced, as the ignorant girl who falls a victim to 
some artful man in a moment of passionate weak- 
ness before she knows what she is doing. Be as- 
sured that knowledge is the best safeguard to pur- 
ity. This should not be done hastily or harshly; 



OEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 191 

explain lovingly to the child or youth all the un- 
naturalness and evil consequences of this vice. 
Encourage them by every motive of hope, and ter- 
ror of man and womanhood, and principle, to over- 
come it. Give full enjoyment to mind and body, 
plenty of exercise in the open air, and constant so- 
ciety. Much more might be said upon this subject, 
but we feel enough has been said, that any think- 
ing mind may understand the necessity of refor- 
mation in this direction. Therefore, we will pro- 
ceed to give the treatment: The most important of 
all is a close observance of the laws of life and 
health, by diet, exercise and plenty of nature's best 
remedy, that is, fresh air and pleasant surround- 
ings. 

Added to this we will give some of our best in- 
ternal remedies to assist, but it should be remem- 
bered that medicine alone will not perfect a cure. 

Iris. virs. 3.x. — Spermatorrhea; with pale face, 
sunken eyes, depression of spirits, heavy, dragging 
gait, and excitable sexual desire, nocturnal emis- 
sions, amorous dreams, confusion of mind, great 
mental depression. 

Kali. brom. 3.x. — Nocturnal emissions, amorous 
dreams, excessive desire, constant erections at 
night, profound melancholy, loss of memory. 

China. 3.x. — Impotence; with lascivious fancies, 
frequent and debilitating nocturnal emissions, con- 
sequences of excessive or long continued sexual 
^b use. 



192 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Capsicum 3.x. — Coldness of scrotum, with im- 
potency, atrophy of testes, shriveled spermatic 
cord. 

Ham. 3.x. — Amorous dreams, pain in lumbar 
region, great prostration, severe neuralgic pain in 
testicle, suddenly changing to the bowels and 
stomach, causing nausea and fain tness; profuse cold 
sweat at the scrotum at night. Following this, 
give Caladium Ustilago; Terebinthia; 10 drops to 
half glass of water. Teaspoonful as often as re- 
quired. For great nervous prostration and debil- 
ity, Cal. carb. 3.x., Phos. acid, .Nitr. acid, Xatr. 
mur., Nux vom., Gels., Puis., Graph. Prepare and 
give in the usual way, as symptoms indicate. 



GONORKHEA. 

This is a term applied to inflammation of the mu- 
cous membrane of the urethra, generally beginning 
at the anterior portion, attended with a contagious 
mucus, or muco-purulent discharge. The cause is 
a specific virus of veneral matter coming in con- 
tact with the part. Still, leuchorrhea, menstrual 
discharge, strains or blows may excite a mild type 
of inflammation, which will pass off in a few days. 
Bat true gonorrhea is due to the action of a specific 
poison depressing the part. It may be a poison of 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 193 

low intensity, or it may be one of great intensity; 
both forms produce gonorrhea. 

The symptoms of both grades are identical — no 
true distinctive mark. Scratch the thigh of the 
patient and apply a little of the puss; the character 
of the sore so produced will reveal the type of the 
virus, the grade of poison. The period of incuba- 
tion varies from twenty-four to forty-eight hours 
after illicit intercourse, sometimes longer, varying 
with the power of vital resistance of the patient. 
An itching desire to urinate frequently, heat, full- 
ness and redness of the orifice, slight, glary dis- 
charge, like the white of an egg, which soon be- 
comes muco-purulent, great scalding during mic- 
turition, pain in the groin, irritability of the blad- 
# der, weight and dragging down of the testicles, are 
symptoms. However, these symptoms are liable 
to numerous complications, as chordee, painful 
erections, balanitis, hemorrhage from the urethra, 
retention of urine, abscesses in the groin, prosta- 
titis, etc., etc. 

Treatment. — This is varied. If the patient be 
seen early, during the first two or three days, an ef- 
fort should be made at once to abate the inflam- 
mation. If possible, this should be done by injec- 
tions into the urethra, after each urination, with 
an injection of sulphate of zinc, grains live, to sul- 
phate of morphia, grains two, to one ounce of water. 



13 



194 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

This will kill the virus at once, after which use the 
following: 

Sulphate of hydrastin 4 grains. 

Baking soda 8 " 

Distilled water 3 ounces. 

Mix. 

Inject after each urination, a few drops, say half 
a teaspoonful. 
Again: 

Sulphate of hydrastin 2 grains. 

Pulverized borax 8 " 

Distilled water 2 M 

Mix. 

Inject this alternately with the above. If there 
be painful erections (chord ee), bathe the parts at 
once in cold water. If it be a simple case, taken 
in time — this is all the treatment required. But* 
in old cases it will be necessary to resort to inter- 
nal treatment, at the same time the injections are 
being used, of the following: 

Compound syrup of stillengia « 4 ounces. 

Balsam of copaiba. half ounce. 

lodi e of potassa 20 grains. 

Fluid extract of gelseminum half drachm. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful three times a day. As soon 
as the discharges abate take twice a day. This 
your druggist will prepare for you; it is good and 
reliable. It takes from six days to six weeks to 
cure these cases, according to the condition, con- 
stitution, habits and life of the individual. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 195 

HOMCEOPATHIO TREATMENT. 

Aconite in the commencement of this disease. 
Micturition painful, difficult, drop by drop, burn- 
ing distress in the urethra. 

Agnus castus. — Yellow and purulent discharge 
after the inflammation has subsided; there is 
neither sexual desire nor erection. 

Cantharides. 3.x. — Tenesmus, constant desire to 
urinate, passing only a few drops at a time, often 
mixed with blood; severe chordee, involuntary 
erection and emissions, nimphomania. 

Graphites. 2.x.-Gluey, sticky discharge at the 
meatus urinarius which does not drop out. 

Copavia. 6.x. — Violent smell of the urine; dis- 
charge purulent, with constant desire to urinate. 

Cubebse. — Itching and burning pains in the 
glands penis, which is swollen and bluish reel ; urethra 
inflamed, with severe pains when urinating; urine 
smells like the drug. 

Pulsatilla. 3.x. — Orchitis, with swelling of the 
scrotum from too sudden check of gonorrhea; itch- 
ing, burning on inner and upper side of the pre- 
puce, with thick yellow, or green discharges. 10 to 
15 drops to half glass of water. Dose, teaspoontul 
every half to one or two hours. 

Stimulants of all kinds are strictly forbidden 
while the treatment is going on, and only the most 
nutritious food should be al lowed. 



ACCIDENTS AND EMERGEN- 
CIES. 



I BURNS AND SCALDS. 

1 Two tablespoonfuls of bicarbonate of soda 
dissolved in one pint of water. Saturate cotton 
cloths with this solution and keep the parts well 
wrapped up, the cloths constantly kept wet. The 
pain will soon cease and the process of healing will 
be rapid. 

2. A liniment composed of equal parts of lime- 
water and linseed oil, is a superior application for 
burns. The lime-water alone is excellent. 

3. Dissolve two ounces of alum in one pint of 
hot water. Saturate cotton cloths with this solu- 
tion and keep the burn well wrapped in them. 
The pain will quickly cease and the process of heal- 
ing will soon commence. 

Care should be taken not to let the parts be ex- 
posed to the air one moment from the time of the 
first application. This can be accomplished by 
handling the burnt parts under the water while 
dressing. Burns and scalds will heal rapidly, with- 
out leaving a scar, if attended to in this manner. 

(196) 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 197 

When the clothing of a person catches fire, 
throw them on the ground, roll them in a piece of 
carpet, a bed quilt is still better. This will extin- 
guish the flames. If these articles are not at hand 
take your coat and use it instead. Begin wrapping 
at the neck and shoulders and wrap downwards, so 
as to keep the flames from the head and face. This 
will soon extinguish the flames; after which the 
burnt parts can be dressed with cosmoline. This 
is a new remedy, and it is an excellent one. After 
covering the cosmoline with one thickness of cot- 
ton cloth, wrap the entire dressing with raw cotton 
to exclude the air. If the weather is very warm 
the cosmoline dressing should be renewed twice a 
day; otherwise, every other day will be sufficient. 

The above remedies and treatment are the best 
known, and adopted by all schools. 

HOMCEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

The above is very good, and we have only to 
add, in very bad cases of burns and scalds some 
few remedies to be taken internally: 

Aeon. 3.x. , Caust., Garb, veg., Lach., Strain., 
Urtic. 10 drops each to half glass of water. Dose, 
teaspoonful every half to one or two hours. 

For external application take carbolic acid, one 
part to twenty of olive oil; or carron oil, equal 
parts lime-water and linseed oil. Keep out the 



198 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

air and keep the parts warm; these are two essen- 
tial points in burns. 



WOUNDS. 



Wounds become dangerous more from their po- 
sition than from their size. A small punctured 
wound may be more dangerous than a large cut; 
or, a small wound in a certain place may be more 
dangerous than a large one in some other spot not 
attended with any danger whatever. If it be dark 
colored blood and flows with regularity, you may 
be able to manage it; but if it spurts out with lit- 
tle jets, however small the wound may be, you 
must use the same means to stop it as directed in 
the chapter, how to stop bleeding by compress 
and bandage (see index), and send for your doc- 
tor at once. Cuts on the head in the hair cannot 
be dressed with a plaster. They may be danger- 
ous when you do not think so. 

Wounds from splinters, nails or from glass should 
not be closed immediately. You should let the 
doctor examine them. 

BROKEN BONES AND DISLOCATIONS. 

Of course you could not expect us to give a trea- 
tise how to remedy this difficulty; this could not be 
done in so small a book. We can only say that 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 199 

broken limbs are easily detected by the patient not 
being able to raise the limb, by its bending or 
grating sound between the joints. Yon may not 
be able to detect whether it is a dislocation, frac- 
ture or broken bone. Unless you are quite sure it 
is a case of dislocation you had better not undertake 
to jerk or pull it. Wait till the surgeon arrives, 
then you are on the safe side. 



POISON VINE; POISON OAK. 



Remedy. — Mix a small quantity of starch with 
sufficient glycerine to form a thick paste and apply 
to the poisoned parts. This is excellent. One ap- 
plication is generally sufficient to affect a cure; if 
not, it may be repeated the following morning. 
This, in the author's hands, has never failed. Be- 
fore the application, bathe the parts in hot water, 
almost hot enough to scald the flesh. 

Baking soda or common washing soda will re- 
move this difficulty very promptly by adding suffi- 
cient water to form a paste, and apply it once or 
twice a day. It will usually kill the poison in from 
two to four days. 

The following is from Prof. Bundy, of Oakland, 
Cal., in which state poisoning is of very frequent 
occurrence from the poison oak. Take of the 

Fluid extract of Grindelia robusta... 2 drachms. 
Glycerine 2 ounces. 



200 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Mix, and apply to the affected parts three or four 
times daily. 

This is a new remedy, and is a specific for the 
poison oak poisoning; in fact, so much so that no 
other treatment need be mentioned. This remedy 
can be found at the drug stores. 

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

Agar., Arm, Corten tig., Graph., Grindelia rob.,. 
Ledum, Nymph., Sang., Sepia. Prepare and give 
in the usual way. For external treatment follow 
the above directions. They stand well recom- 
mended and can be relied upon. 



SPIDER BITES. 

1. Catnip and plantain (which grows in nearly 
everybody's dooryard), equal parts, bruised and ap- 
plied to the wound, is a prompt and effectual rem- 
edy for the cure of a spider bite, or any other in- 
sect. A teaspoonful of the juice of the plantain 
should be taken internally every hour. This is 
also a cure for a hornet or bee sting. In case these 
remedies are not handy we will give others that are 
good. 

2. Table salt and baking powder, equal parts, 
applied to the wound; this will immediately arrest 
the swelling and relieve the pain. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 201 

The common onion is another remedy for the 
same purpose, from which a piece is to be cut and 
at once applied. Dr. Hill uses no other remedy 
than this for stings, etc. If the pieces of onion are 
changed every few minutes the pain, he says, di- 
minishes immediately. 

Accessory Measures. — If a wasp or other sting- 
ing insect be the cause of the trouble, examination 
must be made to see if the sting is left in the flesh, 
which is often the case. The sting must be ex- 
tracted by the fingers or a pair of fine-pointed for- 
ceps. 

HOMCEOPATHIC TKEATMENT. 

The above treatment is about all that is required 
in these little troubles. A few doses of Baptisia 
will act well as an antidote to the blood poisoning. 
Rest is very necessary to avoid exciting an inflam- 
matory action in the system. 



SNAKE BITES. 

The first thing to do in such cases, is to arrest 
the circulation of the blood from the part bitten, as 
soon as possible. This can be done by tying a 
handkerchief or rope tightly around the limb, be- 
tween the wound and the heart, as directed. (See 



202 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

chapter on Hemorrhage and How to Stop It). The 
wound should be sucked with all the force the pa- 
tient can command, or have soma person do it for 
him. Xo danger is attached to the person who 
does it, as long as the poison does not come in con- 
tact with any abraded or raw surface of the mouth 
crs other parts of the body. If any considerable 
time has elapsed after the bite, and before the ap- 
plication has been made, there should be a small 
incision made in the flesh with a knife, across the 
wound, in order to more readily admit the solution, 
after which the bruised plantain will do good ser- 
vice, as before described. If that is not at hand, 
the next best remedy is moistened saleratus bound 
on the bite. Keep the parts wet with it for a few 
hours. This remedy has not been known to fail to 
cure the bite of a snake. 

The old remedy is to drink plenty of good 
brandy till you get intoxicated; and then it some- 
times fails. But it should be administered to sus- 
tain the nervous system till the poison is elimi- 
nated. 

We would rather use the plantain externally and 
internally. 

HOMCEOPATHIC TKEATMEXT. 

Solution Fowler. — Two drops to be taken every 
half hour, and repeat for four hours. This, with 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 203 

the above treatment, is the best we know of at the 
present time. 



SUNSTROKE. 

Symptoms. — Most cases are preceded by pain in 
the head; wandering thoughts, or an inability to 
think; disturbed vision, irritability of temper, 
sense of pain or weight at the pit of the stomach, 
inability to breathe with the usual ease and satis. 
faction, skin dry and hot, sometimes cold, and very 
soon the patient feels unable to command his limbs, 
and finally he sinks down in a state of unconscious- 
ness. 

Remedies. — The old method of applying cold 
water to the head is a bad practice, and should be 
abandoned. 

A better method is to make warm water appli- 
cations. If hot water cannot be obtained bathe the 
head first with tepid water, and, with the hands 
moistened, rub the neck and whole length of the 
spine, then the extremities in a downward direc- 
tion, in order to draw the blood from the brain. As 
soon as hot water can be obtained, put a dry blanket 
around the patient, and wring flannels from the 
water and apply them quickly to the stomach, liver, 
bowels and spine. Immerse the feet in hot water. 
or wrap them in hot blankets. Change the flannels 



204 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

every eight or ten minutes for half an hour or 
more. Then remove them as soon as circulation is 
established, and apply tepid water; dry well, and 
rub the body briskly with the hands until a glow 
is produced or circulation established. As soon as 
the patient can swalloV, give him hot water to drink 
and plenty of it, with occasional bits of crushed ice 
or a sip of cold water. Keep tepid water on the 
head all the time changed frequently, and all will 
be well in a few hours. 

Prevention. — During the heated term the "use of 
malt, fermented or distilled drinks should be aban- 
doned. Wear a hat that will permit the air to pass 
through, and have the top lined with one thickness 
of flannel, or keep a damp silk handkerchief in the 
crown. Persons who feel the above symptoms 
should immediately get into the shade and bathe 
the head in cold water. Everything calculated to 
impair the strength should be avoided. Sleep is a 
most wonderful restorer of strength, and the want 
of it is often caused by a badly assorted late meal. 
Defective ventilation often leads to a condition of 
affairs favorable to the malady under consideration. 
Drinking large quantities of ice-cold water, partic- 
ularly before and after meals, is very unwise. 

HOMCEOPATHIC TREATMENT. 

Bell. 3. x.— -Dullness of pain, congestion of blood 
to the head, with whizzing in the ears; distensive 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 205 

headache, worse when stooping; great anguish, 
tearful disposition. 

Lachesis. 3.x. — Burning pressure in the head from 
within outward; dizziness, with paleness of the 
face, tendency to faint and numbness; cadaverous, 
sunken expression, coldness of the extremities, ex- 
cessive dryness of the throat, with tightness and 
oppression of the chest. 

Camphora. 3.x. — Severe headache, congestion of 
the brain, fainting, delirium, convulsions, skin icy 
€old and covered with a cold sweat, sinking of vital 
forces, embarrassed respiration and circulation, 
tremors, cramps in the muscles. 

Cactus, grand. 3.x. — Congestion to brain, blood- 
shot eyes, coma suffocation, flushes in the face, pul- 
sation in temples, as if skull would burst; dimness 
of sight, prostration, general weakness, difficult 
breathing, as if an iron band prevented motion to 
the chest. 

Glonoin. 2.x. — Distension of cerebral capillaries, 
reflux of blood impeded, loss of consciousness, 
fainting, relaxation of muscles, painful constriction 
of heart, etc., etc. 

Veratrum viride. 3.x. — Fullness of head, throb- 
bing arteries, increased sensitiveness to sound. 
buzzing in the ears, double or partial vision, rapid 
respiration, and dull, burning sensation in the car- 
diac region, faintness and blindness from sudden 
motion, coldness of the whole body, cold sweat on 



4 



206 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

the face, hands and feet. 10 drops of each in half 
glass of water. Dose, teaspoonful every hour or 
two, as the case may require. 



HEMORKHAGE. 



BLEEDING, AND HOW TO STOP IT. 

Many a fond mother has had a terrible fright 
occasioned by her child running in with its face 
and clothes all smeared with blood. It is astonish- 
ing what a big show a very little blood will make. 
But then it is no wonder that bleeding produces 
fright; animals will instinctively rush to the spot 
where one of their kind is bleeding to death. 
Blood is the life, and where there is much loss of 
it life is endangered. A full knowledge of the en- 
tire structure of the body should be acquired *by 
everyone. It is to be hoped that this will be one of 
the fundamental branches taught in our public 
schools at no distant day. And all should be as 
familiar with the bones, their structure and uses, 
the blood vessels, their origin and course, as they 
are with the rivers and lakes of the country; for 
no one can afford to be ignorant of the situation of 
the blood vessels; because some day, in the course 
of their lives, it may be a question with them of 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 207 

life and death, or some one of their friends. Ac- 
cidents may happen to anyone. If the body be 
torn, cut or injured in any way, some one of the 
important blood vessels may be involved, and death 
may be the result in a very few moments, simply 
because no one present may have obtained the 
knowledge they might have possessed with very 
little study. Therefore, it is very hard for us to 
give rules to stop bleeding, for we do not expect 
everyone who reads this book to understand anato- 
my. We cannot tell you as we would were you 
acquainted with the circulatory system; yet if you 
will follow us we will try and give you a fair un- 
derstanding of it. 

BLEEDING FROM THE NOSE. 

Occasionally we find a person bleeding from the 
nose, which is quite troublesome. The cause is 
generally concealed in the nervous system — debil- 
ity of the nervous system. Loss of nerve force 
is the usual cause of hemorrhage, whether from the 
lungs, nose, stomach, anus, or other parts of the 
body. Therefore, the true remedy consists in what- 
ever restores vigor to the nervous system. Ham- 
amelis (witch hazel) bark, or pulverized borax ap- 
plied within the nostrils will stop the bleeding very 
soon. In the meantime cold water should be 
poured upon the wrists and back of the neck until 



208 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

the parts are very much reduced in temperature, 
thus arresting the rush of blood to the head. If 
you feel that the bleeding is going to commence, 
press on the large veins on either side of the throat, 
rubbing downwards gently. 

BLEEDING ABOVE THE EAR. 

If there is a wound above the ear, on either side 
of the head, place your finger about a quarter of an 
inch in front of the ear, upon the side injured, and 
press hard with your finger, as this point will be 
on the blood vessel that carries the blood from the 
heart up along the temple to the side of the head. 

BLEEDING BELOW THE EYES. 

All of the small arteries that carry the blood to 
the outside of the face, nose, lips and muscles of 
the face, spring from the main artery that passes 
over the under jaw about half-way from the angle 
to the point of the chin. Therefore, if you place a 
nickel on your thumb over the lower edge of the 
jawbone you will at once arrest the bleeding. 

BLEEDING FROM A WOUND IN AN ARM. 

Grasp the arm about two inches below the arm- 
pit; press tightly upon that portion which lies next 
to the body and a little in front of the center of the 
arm-pit. Or you can make a roll or pad and place 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 209 

it on the artery at this point, and tie a handkerchief 
around the part tightly, just below the arm-pit. 
Treated in this way the bleeding below this point 
can be checked until you send for your physician 
to tie the artery and dress the wound properly. 

BLEEDING FROM WOUNDS IN THE LEG OR FOOT. 

Lie down and support the limb above the head 
of the body. Then press upon the large artery 
which lies in front of the thigh, about mid-way of 
the leg, just below the groin. Fix a roll or pad (as 
directed to fix the pad to stop bleeding of the arm), 
or if you are in the field by yourself, and should 
get a severe cut with the scythe or other sharp in- 
strument, take a handful of dry earth and clasp it 
to the wound and hold it tightly with the hand 
until you can get assistance. 

BLEEDING FROM THE STOMACH. 

It is frightful to see anyone vomiting blood, and 
is quite dangerous, but not always as much so as 
it appears. Sometimes it is a question whether it 
be from the stomach or lungs. The blood from 
the stomach is darker in color than that from the 
lungs, and is frequently mixed with food stringy 
and ropy. 

Remedy. — Give two teaspoonfuls of vinegar, or 
lemon juice, in a little cold water, and repeat it 
14 



210 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

every half hour till the bleeding stops, or till your 
physician comes. You can also give a little cracked 
ice, if you have it, and nothing more, unless you 
understand medicine. 

BLEEDING FROM THE LUNGS. 

You will know the blood is from the lungs from 
its being coughed up instead of vomited; besides it 
is scarlet instead of a dark color, like that from the 
stomach, and is frothy in its nature. Keep the 
shoulders raised pretty high by pillows; sponge 
the chest with cold water and a little vinegar; 
make no exertion by talking; keep quiet; give the 
patient a little salt, half a teaspoonful at a dose, 
taken dry, and repeat often in small doses. These 
are the only means at hand used by the common 
people, and many times are the best when they do 
the work. The other agents belong to the doctor, 
and require an education and experience to use 
them successfully and with safety. 

HOMEOPATHIC TKEATMENT. 

For hemorrhage from the lungs, little can be 
said in addition to the above. Either of the follow- 
ing remedies may be used: 

Aeon. 3.x., Ham., Lycopus, China, Nitr. acid, 
Arnica, Bell., Cactus, Carbo. veg., Dulc, Xpec. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 211 

Prepare in the usual way, and give according to 
severity of the case. # 



BATH. 



Baths are used both in health and disease. Bath- 
ing or sponging is indispensable; for cleanliness is 
next to godliness. "Wash the skin all over at least 
twice a week. Use a little Castile soap, and then 
rub dry with a rough towel, having the room the 
right temperature to suit the condition of the pa- 
tient. 

Some convenient apparatus should be kept in 
every dwelling for bathing purposes. On the fol- 
lowing page see cut of our combination bath appa- 
ratus, with full description of how it is made; also 
directions for giving the many different kinds of 
baths that can be administered. We shall not. at- 
tempt to give a detailed description of the different 
baths that have been brought to notice by the hy- 
dropathic system of treatment, or any other school. 
Our apparatus for bathing will take the place of 
all other baths in use, excepting cases where pa- 
tients are too feeble, then the sponge bath must be 
used. For these, full directions will be given under 
the head of Fevers. 



212 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE 




DR. BARRINGTON'S HOME TURKISH BATH. 

The following dimensions will show how each 
family can make a Turkish' bath of their own at a 
trifling expense, from lumber that is plowed and 
grooved, five-eighths of an inch in thickness: 

Four feet high, 3 feet 6 inches long, 2 feet 3 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 2,16 

inches wide — all inside measurement; 18 inches 
high in front up to the door; 8 inches from the 
back of the bath to the edge of the hole which re- 
ceives the neck; hole for the neck, 5 inches in di- 
ameter; from the edge of the hole in front to the 
door, 6 inches — this will give you the slant of the 
door. There must be a slot cut in front of the 
hole 5 inches wide, so that when the bather seats 
himself in the bath box his neck can go through 
this slot to the hole prepared for the neck; this 
slot must be fitted in after the bather is in position 
with a block, with tongue and groove, so when it is 
slipped to its place it will fit the neck nicely. Then 
you can shut the door, and all is in readiness to 
proceed with your bath. 

The water tank should be as high up and as far 
away from the bath box as convenient, so as to get 
the fall or force from the water through the spray, 
which should strike the bather with as much force 
as he can bear. However, all can see at a glance 
the bath box, bather, water tank, and faucet with 
hose attached, without any further description. 

PI represents the seat, a stool which is made to 
raise or lower at will. D, small slide door, in front 
of which, on the outside of the bath box, is a small 
shelf attached to hold soap, sponge, brush, and such 
things as the bather will need, and, by pushing 
back the slide door, he can help himself at will 
when he takes a bath without an attendant, Li, 



214 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

slide in the main door, through which to pour ad- 
ditional hot water in the foot bath when required. 
A, slide door to admit the alcohol lamp under the 
patient when you want to take an alcoholic sweat, 
or Turkish bath, as it is called. E, India rubber 
hose, which is attached to the water tank; on the 
other end is attached a very finely punctured spray 
nozzle, which can be procured at the plumber's or 
gas-fitter's. C, stop-cock to let the waste-water 
run away into the waste-pipe or drain. B, iron pan, 
large enough to set the bath box inside of it, to 
catch the water in case you desire to give an inva- 
lid a bath in a bed chamber or on a parlor carpet. 

This is a portable bath, and costs but little to 
build. Any one can see at a glance the practica- 
bility of such an arrangement. For cleansing pur- 
poses it is unequaled, as the bather can rinse him- 
self as much or as long as he chooses; or he can 
sit down on a low stool, shut himself up in the 
bath, and spray himself, the water running on him 
in imitation of a shower of rain, running off in the 
waste-pipe. In this way you get more benefit from 
the water than to lie down in it; therefore it is more 
scientific. 

Besides all these advantages, we have a combi- 
nation bath-tub all in one. We can give a better 
Turkish bath at your own home than you can get 
in any large city; inasmuch as many cannot stand 
the hot air on their heads, you can take the hot air 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 215 

sweat with the head outside of the box; or, you 
can sit on a low stool, shut the bath box, and in 
this way you have the real Turkish bath, only bet- 
ter in every way. Then you can give the vapor 
bath, the electrical bath, the sulphur fume bath, 
and the medicated vapor bath, all in this one box, 
each of which can be followed by the spray. The 
water can be warmed and prepared previous to 
taking the bath. 

ALCOHOL SWEAT BATH. 

First, we must describe the alcohol lamp, which 
should be used for this purpose, and no other kind. 
The lamp should not be more than two inches high, 
sufficiently large to hold half a pint of alcohol; the 
tube for the wick should also be two inches high 
and large enough to hold a wick that is J of an inch 
in diameter; the wick should be twisted into 
this tube as tight as possible. There should be a 
place to pour in the alcohol, made with a screw, 
like the top of a kerosene can; this large size wick 
will give heat enough to produce sufficient perspir- 
ation in a very short time After adjusting your- 
self on the stool in the bath box, your feet placed 
in hot water, light the lamp and place it in front 
of you in the corner of the bath tub; shut the door, 
and the process of the bath begins. You can sweat 
25 or 30 minutes; occasionally add more hot water 
to the foot bath; if you should feel too hot during 



216 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

the process of the sweat, you can open the bath 
door occasionally and let in the cool air. In this 
case, you will have to prolong the sweat from 40 to 
50 minutes, after which take out your lamp and 
turn on the water through the hose pipe and spray 
yourself just a little; then shampoon your body all 
over with soap; then spray yourself again, rub dry 
with a towel. This kind of bath taken once a week 
will preserve your health without resorting to 
drugs of any kind; if you are sick, it is the quick- 
est way to effect a cure. It is safe to repeat every 
day if necessary, only the sweat is not continued 
longer than 15 minutes. 

TURKISH BATH. 

This bath is taken the same as the above, with 
this exception, the patient can sit on a low stool; 
and when the bath door is shut the patient will be 
inclosed inside the box, head and all; in this way 
they breathe the hot air directly into the lungs. 
Remain in 15 or 20 minutes, or longer if necessary, 
after which the spraying and shampooning begins 
the same as described above. This completes the 
bath. 

MEDICATED BATH. 

This is given in the same way as the Turkish 
bath, with this difference, the medicine which you 
choose to use is placed in a vessel with one 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 217 

pint of water added; this should sit on a stand suf- 
ficiently high to allow your lamp to be placed 
under it that it may be kept boiling, so the steam 
or vapor arising therefrom may be inhaled into the 
lungs by the patient, at the same time they are 
having a good sweat. Then comes the spray as 
before; you then have a combination of three baths 
in one. Time required for the sweat is from 15 to 
50 minutes, according to the constitution and con- 
dition of the patient. This will soon become ap- 
parent after a few baths are taken. For consump- 
tive patients, catarrh, bronchial difficulty, or sud- 
den cold in the head or lungs this bath is called for 
and is excellent. The medicines used for such pur- 
poses are the lobelia and pennyroyal herbs. Quan- 
tity for one bath; take as much as you can hold 
with the thumb and two fingers of the lobelia and 
twice that quantity of the pennyroyal to one pint 
of boiling water. Other remedies are often used 
and can be prescribed by your physician to meet 
the indications, but these two herbs are sufficient 
for all ordinary purposes. 

SULPHUR FUME BATH. 

Take either one of the above-named baths after 
the sweat is about half through; take an iron ves- 
sel of any kind, fire-shovel will do; heat it suffi- 
ciently hot to burn the flour of sulphur, so as to 
produce a fume; put this hot iron in your bath 



218 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE, 

tub, and sprinkle about a teaspoonful of the flour 
of sulphur upon it; shut the bath box as quick as 
possible and cover the outside with a sheet, to 
prevent the sulphur fumes from escaping into the 
room; remain in this fume for 12 or 15 minutes, 
then get out and go into another room quickly, and 
remain there till some one opens the doors and 
windows of the room and lets the sulphur escape; 
then you can return and finish your bath, by sham- 
pooning and spraying the body thoroughly. 

HOW TO BATHE THE BABY. 

The best way to bathe the baby when sick is to 
take a small blanket, wrung from tepid water, 
spread it over the mother's lap, lay the little one 
in her arms, well wrapt in the wet blanket, this 
being snugly covered with a dry one, to protect it 
from the cold air; the baby should remain in this 
position from 30 to 40 minutes, then remove the 
blankets and sponge off with tepid water, rubbing 
briskly with a dry towel; place it in a warm, dry 
sheet, with sufficient covering to keep the little one 
comfortable. Usually a sweet, restful sleep follows, 
which is nature's best restorer, and the baby wak- 
ens much refreshed. This method can be repeated 
several times, if desired, with perfect safety, and 
proves very efficient in many of the ills that are inci- 
dent to children. But it should always be remem- 
bered that the room should be kept warm, and no 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 219 

draft from doors or windows while administering 
the bath. 

FOOT BATH. 

This bath is very necessary for many purposes — 
for headache, sudden cold, etc. It is usually taken 
on going to bed. The water should be as hot as could 
be borne; place the feet in it, and throw a blanket 
over the limbs to retain the heat; let them remain 
20 or 30 minutes, or longer, if desired. As the 
water cools, more hot should be added. If the pa- 
tient is troubled with cold feet, add a tablespoonful 
of ground mustard with the water. If you wish to 
sweat after the bath, you should drink hot teas, 
such as ginger, smart weed, or a hot lemonade, 
with a little w r hisky or capsicum (red pepper) 
added; retire immediately, place hot irons to the 
feet, and cover up well, until free perspiration is 
produced. 

HIP, OR SITZ BATH. 

Sufficient water should be placed in a tub to 
cover the hips and lower portion of the abdomen. 
When the patient is in a sitting posture the water 
can be made any temperature to suit the immedi- 
ate indications. The patient should remain in the 
bath the length of time indicated by the physician. 
Most all physicians prescribe this bath for various 
diseases. We would add in case ot^ painful or 
suppressed menses this bath is very good. Some- 
times we order this and the foot bath together. 



RECIPES, ETC. 



CONSTIPATION OF THE BOWELS. 

AN INFALLIBLE PRESCRIPTION. 

Fluid extract of Cascara sagrada, one ounce. 

Fluid extract of Grindelia squarrosa. 

Fluid extract of Podophyllum peltatura. 

Tincture of Nux vomica, of each one-half drachm. 

Glycerine, two and one-half ounces. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful after each meal and on going 
to bed. 

This medicine acts slow at first, but when once 
its action takes place, then less quantity is required 
— taken once or twice a day, or once every other 
day; it should be taken regularly enough to have 
the bowels move under its influence, till the medi- 
cine is all taken. This will cure persistent cases of 
constipation effectually as no other prescription 
ever has. It is invaluable, and is worth more than 
the price of a dozen books like this. The fluid 
extract of Cascara sagrada of Park, Davis & Co.'s 
manufacture is also a good preparation. The cas- 
cara is good for dyspepsia; taken in small doses we 

(220) 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 221 

consider this one of the most valuable remedies 
ever given to medical science. 



DR. BAKRINGTON'S RESTORATIVE COM- 
POUND. 

FOB INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL USE. 

Good for cholera morbus, nervous headache, and 
all kinds of relaxed conditions of the bowels: 

Oil of organium. 

Oil of sassafras, of each one ounce. 

Pure sweet spirits of nitre, three ounces. 

Saturated tincture of camphor, one ounce. 

Essence of peppermint, two drachms. 

Fluid extract of capsicum, one drachm. 

Chloroform, three ounces. 

Aqua ammonia, fff, two ounces. 

Ninety-eight per cent, alcohol, half a pint. 

Mix, and keep well corked. 

For sprains, bruises, rheumatism, or weak back, 
bathe the parts well with the medicine, applied 
with the hands. 

To treat a case of cholera, the medicine takes 
the place of a mustard draft, by wetting the hand 
and laying it on the stomach, wrists and soles 
of the feet, taking care to hold the hand still, ex- 
cluding all the air where it is applied; give a half 



222 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

teaspoonf ill internally every ten or fifteen minutes, 
as directed for internal use; bathe the body all over 
with the medicine, rub with the hands till the body 
smarts or feels hot; then cover the patient with a 
dry, hot blanket. 

For nervous sick headache, bathe the temples, 
back of the ears and neck, and on top of the head. 
Smell occasionally, and take half a teaspoonful 
every ten or fifteen minutes. 

FOR INTERNAL USE. 

This medicine should be prepared as follows: 

To one teaspoonful of the medicine add two of 
water; mix in a tumbler, stir well; it should be 
mixed as it is used, as it loses its qualities by ex- 
posure to the air. Keep the bottle well corked. 

For chronic diarrhea — Dose, one teaspoonful to 
one and a half, as the case requires, every half hour 
to four and six hours. 

For children, the medicine should be weakened 
by adding more water and a little sugar, according 
to the age of the child, and as your judgment dic- 
tates. 

N. B. — Remember, this medicine must never be 
taken internally full strength, it will burn the 
stomach. 

This medicine is invaluable, and should be kept 
in every family. The author has saved the life of 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 223 

many with this prescription. It is the most valu- 
able medicine in all such cases, and is in great de- 
mand wherever the author is known. 



COUGH SYKTTPS. 

There are many kinds of coughs that arise from 
many causes; we give you a formula you can always 
vary to meet the indications. However, you should 
remember, a syrup made from spices, cloves, cinna- 
mon, allspice, cardamon seed, etc., is always called 
for in a cough arising from any cause. This you 
can make yourself and keep on hand, add a little 
of this to your cough syrup, just sufficient to flavor 
it. We call this No. 1. 

BALSAM FOR WEAK LUNGS-XO. 2. 

Oil of sweet almonds, one ounce. 
Gum Arabic, dissolved, one ounce. 
Tincture of horehound, one ounce. 
Tincture of Jamaica ginger, one-half ounce. 
Syrup of stillingia, two ounces. 
Syrup of honey, one ounce. 
Good brandy, two ounces. 
Mix. 

Now you can add about an ounce of No. 1 to 
this, sufficient to make a ten-ounce mixture. 

Dose, half a teasix)onful every half hour till the 



224 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

cough is better, then prolong the intervals to one, 
two, or three hours. 

COUGHS FROM COLDS, WITH SORE LUNGS— NO. 3. 

Fluid extract of asclepias tub. (pleurisy root). 

Fluid extract of lycopus virg. (sweet bugle weed). 

Fluid extract of collinsonia (stone root), of each 
one drachm. 

Tincture of lobelia seed, twenty drops. 

Tijicture of ipecac, one-half drachm. 

Syrup of horehound, one ounce. 

Syrup of stillingia, two ounces. 

Good brandy, one ounce. 

Mix. 

Add one-half ounce of No. 1. 

Dose, teaspoonful every hour or two; for chil- 
dren, reduce accordingly. 

If either of these remedies are too strong they 
can be reduced with a little water, or the juice of 
one lemon and water, to suit the taste. Your drug- 
gist can put them up for you, and they will keep 
for years. 

Note. — The crab apple stewed, the juice strained 
and added to either of the above cough syrups, af- 
ter sweetening to the taste is excellent for all bron- 
chial trouble. Then you have the finest cough 
medicines ever used. 

Homoeopathic. — Coughs usually arise from some 
diseased condition of the system; there are many 
kinds and as many causes; special remedies are 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 225 

called for. The following will reach the leading 
indications: 

For dry cough without expectoration: — Aconite, 
Arum., Bell., Bry., •Cal. carb., Cham., Hyos., Ign., 
Ipec, Iris ver., Lach., Nux vom., Phos., Spong., 
Sulphur. 2d. llepar sulph., Arn., Ars., Ant., 
Carb. v., Ferr., Kali, bic, Chin., Cup., Spig., Squill, 
Lobe. 

For loose cough with expectoration: — Ars., Cal. 
carb., China, Bry., Iod., Phos., Puis., Sepa., Sil., 
Squill, Sulph., Ferr., Lept, Eupt. pur., Hydr., 
Collins. 

For hoarse, deep cough: — 1st. Aconite, Bell., 
Bry., Hep., Sulph., China, Ign., Mure, sol., Nux v., 
Sticta pulm. 2d. Aeon., Ambr., Apoc. can., Arsen., 
Cal. carb., Caust., Kreos., Lye, Nitr. ac, Phyto., 
Sabin. 

For barking, exhaustive cough: — 1st. Aconite, 
Ars., Bell., Lach., Lob. infi., Merc, cor., Nux vom., 
Pals., Stram., Sulph. 2d. Arsen., Anac. orient., 
Carb. veg., Hoyoc, Gymnoc can., Ign., Lye, Sil., 
Ipec. Prepare and take in the usual way. Use 
3.x. 



DYSENTEBY— BLOODY FLUX. 

Fluid extract of chamomile, one drachm. 
Fluid extract of epilobium (" wake up willow" 
herb), one drachm. 
15 



226 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Fluid extract of Crocus satava (saffron), one 
draclim. 

Fluid extract of Polygala seneca (seneca snake 
root), two drachms. 

Camphor gum, five grains. 

Pulverized opium, twenty grains. 

Best brandy, two ounces. 

(Dissolve the opium and camphor first in the 
brandy). 

Syrup of ginger. 

Syrup of lemon, of each sufficient to make six 
ounces. 

Mix. Shake well. 

Dose : For a child of one year or under, from four 
to six drops, in a little sweetened water; two years 
old, from eight to ten drops; four years old, twenty 
drops; adults, from one to one and one-half tea- 
spoonfuls every half hour to four and six hours 
apart, as the case demands. 

This is a sure cure for bloody flux, diarrhea, and 
all relaxed conditions of the bowels. We never 
knew it to fail in a single case where there were no 
other complications. But should there be inflam- 
mation of the bowels, you should put the patient 
on oatmeal water or slippery elm for a drink; 
injections of the same are necessary. Diet, extract 
of beef, milk punch, etc.. See page 17 and 22. 

Homceopathic— The above prescription we have 
tried, and with marked success; it may be given in 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. . 227 

homoeopathic doses if desired, using a teaspoonful 
to half glass of water, giving teaspoonful every half 
hour in severe cases; as the patient is relieved pro- 
long the intervals. 

We also add some of our remedies: 

1st. Aeon., Aloes, Arn., Arsen., Bapt., Ham.,. 
Iris, ver., Merc, cor., Rhus., Sulph. Alternate 
these if desired. 2d. Bry., Carb. veg., China, 
Collins., Nux. vom., Gels., Diosco., Geran., Hydras. 
3.x. Prepare and administer in the usual way. 



LOSS OF APPETITE. 

Tincture of Apocynum canabinum (Indian hemp) 
half drachm. 

Tincture of Hydrastis canad., one drachm. 

Elixir of vitriol, three drachms. 

Simple syrup, four ounces. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful after each meal. 

Nux. vom., Hydr. can., Ferr., Met., Phos. acid., 
Iris, ver., Cal. carb., Puis., 3.x.; 10 drops to half 
glass of water. 

Dose, teaspoonful every one or two hours. Al- 
ternate each remedy every day. 



228 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

EXCESS OF VOMITING. 

Tincture of mix vomica, from two to five drops. 

Tincture of ipecac, from ten to fifteen drops. 

Water, four ounces. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful every half hour. 

Also, a weak decoction of peach, or apple tree 
leaves, taken alternately with the above will do 
the work. » 

Homceopathic. — Hematemesis (vomitus cruen- 
tus). 1st. Aconite nap., Aloes, Arn., Ars., Ferr. 
met., Ilyoc, Ipec, Nux vom., Phos. 2d. Amm., 
Bell., Canth., Carb. veg., Canst., Chin., Lych., 
Plumb., Alum., 3.x. Alternate and take them every 
10 or 20 minutes till relieved, then prolong the 
intervals. 



EARACHE. 



Glycerine of tannin, half ounce. 

Tincture of laudanum, twenty drops. 

Sulphate of hydrastin, two grains. 

Sulphuric ether, one drachm. 

Mix, 

Drop three or four drops of this medicine in the 
ear, from off the end of a little stick is the best. 
We have never known this to fail in a single in- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 229 

stance to cure this distressing disease in children 
in a very few minutes. 

Homceopathic. — We claim if the system be in 
good condition there will be no need of local appli- 
cation, and they sometimes prove injurious to the 
internal organs that may result in permanent 
deafness. 



INACTION OF THE KIDNEYS. 

Fluid extract of Eupatorium purpureum (queen 
of the meadow), one-half ounce. 

Fluid extract of Asclepias tub. (pleurisy root), 
one drachm. 

Fluid extract of Sanguinaria cana (blood root), 
twenty drops. 

Nitrate of potass., two and a half drachms. 

Syrup of lemon. 

Syrup of ginger, of each two ounces. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful every three hours. 

This prescription is excellent following rheuma- 
tism or malarial fevers to free the poison in the 
blood and carry it out of the system through the 
kidneys. 

IIomceopatiiic. — Nephritis Retinitis. — If there 
is retention, or scanty urination; Apis., Ars., Gels., 
Bell., Phos. ac, Salicyl. acid., Sep., Dulc, Lye., 



230 GEMS OFKNOWLEDGE. 

Canth., Urtic, Chloral, Ustilago maidis, Eupa. 
pur., 3.x. Prepare and give in the usual way. 



SUMMER DIARRHEA IN LITTLE CHIL- 
DREN. 

From eighteen months to five years old give 

Sugar of milk, one-half ounce. 

Lactopeptine, fifteen grains. 

H3 T drochloric acid. 

Lactic acid, of each one-half drachm. 

Tincture of Xanthoxylum (prickly ash berries), 
one drachm. 

Syrup of lemon. 

Water, of each one ounce. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful every hour, or half a teaspoon- 
ful every half hour is better; as the symptoms im- 
prove prolong the intervals. 

Homceopathio. — If child does not thrive or sleep 
well, Cham., China, Nux. v., Cal. carb., Iris. ver. 
Cholera infantum, vomiting, Cal. carb. (curded 
sour milk), Sil., Ars., Phos., Ant. crud. Vomits 
green curd'exhausted afterwards, Kreosote. (Diar- 
rhea, indigested food), Sulph., Cal. carb. (Contains 
curdled mild), Graph., (if thin, brown, half-digested 
and fetid), Phos., (if hot), Camphor. (With great 
exhaustion), Phos. acid, Hepar sul. (If sour, 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 231 

white or green), Ant. crude. (Hard lumps of 
curdled milk), Ipec, Nux v. (Stools changeable, 
very offensive), Cal. carb., Carbo. veg., Gels., Nux 
v., Hydr., Ipec, Podo., Lept. (Cold sweat), Yerat. 
alb. Prepare and give in the usual way. 



CATARRH OF THE BLADDER. 

The common Ustilago maidis or rhus aromatica 
(skunk bush). 

Fluid extract, of Park, Davis & Co.'s manufac- 
ture. 

Teaspoonful at a dose, in a little sweetened water, 
three or four times a day; as the symptoms im- 
prove prolong the intervals. 

For insipidus (diabetes) — children wetting the 
bed — take 

Rhus aromatica, one ounce. 

Glycerine, two ounces. 

Water, one ounce. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful every three or four hours, as 
the case demands. 

This is anew remedy, introduced to the profes- 
sion by Dr. McClanahan. He says fur bladder 
troubles this remedy surpasses all others. It has 
been well endorsed by many other eminent physi- 
cians as accomplishing all that Dr. McClanahan 



232 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

claims for it. We have had no case nor occasion 
to try it. 

Homoeopathic. — First. Colch., Dulc, Lye, Nux 
v., Puis., Sulph. Second. Ant., Apis., Bell., Ergot., 
Apoc. can., Cal. carb., Carbo. veg. If blood passes 
with urine, give Ham., Lyco., Canth. If chronic 
cases, Cal. carb., Carbo. veg., Hyd., Kali., Phosph., 
3.x. Prepare and take the same. 



TONIC FOR DISEASE OF THE KIDNEYS. 

Balsam of Fir, three ounces. 

Balm of Gilead buds, fresh ones, two ounces. 

Linn bark, one ounce. 

Steep the buds and bark slowly in sufficient water 
to get the strength. Then strain and add sufficient 
sugar to make a pint; cut the balsam, add a pint of 
good Holland gin. Then add the syrup of the buds 
and bark, and shake well. 

Dose, teaspoonful three or four times a day. 

This is one of the most valuable tonics for dis- 
eases of the kidney, with constant pain in the back, 
we have ever used. It is invaluable. 

Homoeopathic. — Aconite., Alum., Bell., Canth., 
Terb., Cam., Caust., China, Collins., Eupat. purp., 
Gels., Geran., Lye, Nux v., Phyt., Chimaphila, 
Kali, carb., 3.x. Prepare and take in the usual 
way. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 233 

COMMON BILIOUS CONDITION. 

Tincture of gelsemium, 

Tincture of nux vomica, of each one drachm. 

Citric acid, one-half drachm. 

Sulphate of quinine, thirty grains. 

Glycerine, two and one-half ounces. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful in a little water after each 
meal. 

Homoeopathic. — 1. Principal remedies. Apis., 
Ars., Chin., Eupat. pur., Ign., Ipec, Lach., Rhus,, 
Sulph. 2. In cold, damp seasons, Cal. carb., Carbo. 
veg., China, Lach., Nux mosch., Puis., Rhus., Sul- 
phur. Prevailing in spring and summer, or in 
warm seasons generally. — First. Ars., Bell., Calc, 
Caps., Chin., Ipec, Lach., Sulph., Yerat. ; second. 
Ant. crud. Bry., Carbo. veg., Natr. mur., Nux 
vom., Puis., Sulph. Use the 3.x.; 10 to 12 drops 
of each to half glass of water. Dose, teaspoonful 
every hour. 



MALARIAL AFFECTIONS. 

Tincture of iodine, ten drops in a third of a tum- 
bler of sweetened water at one dose, three times a 
day, cures it better and quicker than quinine. For 
children, give proportionate doses. 



234 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Homoeopathic. — The remedies for this affection 
are nearly the same as the above, common bilious 
condition, unless it should be chronic or malig- 
nant; in that case, when chill is on, give, first, 
Aeon., Bry., Caps., Carb. veg., Cham., Chin., Hep., 
Puis., Sabina. When chill and fever is off, give 
Phod., Gels., and alternate them. Second. Sep., 
Gels., Iris, v., China, Nux vom. — take your choice 
of either of the two last — 3.x. Prepare and take 
in the usual way; continue till return of chill, 
then return to the first remedy under this head. 



BONE FELONS, CARBUNCLES AND BOILS. 

To allay the pain in these distressing comforters 
use the following prescription: 

Tincture of aconite root, 

Tincture of arnica, 

Tincture of cantharides, 

Tincture of veratrum, of each two drachms. 

Tincture of iodine, three drachms. 

Mix. 

Saturate a cotton cloth and apply to the parts, 
and keep it wet with the mixture till the^pain 
ceases; give twenty-drop doses of the arnica every 
hour. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 235 

HOW TO PREVENT A FELON. 

It is unnecessary for any one to have a felon if 
the white of an egg and half a teaspoonful of salt is 
applied in time. It will scatter it at once. We 
have tried it many times with success. But if it 
is not done in time it will do no good. 

The following prescription will draw it to the 
surface very quickly. 

Take equal parts of brown soap and unslaked 
lime, equal parts of whisky and common kerosene, 
until a salve is made, bind it on the felon. In 
twenty-four hours it will draw the matter to the 
surface, when it can be removed. 



DIPHTHERIA. 

Dialyzed iron, two drachms. 

Chlorate of potassa, one drachm. 

Tincture of iodine, five drops. 

Distilled water, half ounce. 

Glycerine, one and one-half ounces. 

Mix. 

Dose, for a child five years old, half a teaspoon- 
ful in a little sweetened water, every one or two 
hours, as the case demands. 

FOR EXTERNAL APPLICATION. 

Fluid extract of belladonna, two ounces; 
Hydrate of chloral, half ounce; 
Glvcerine, half ounce. 



236 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Dissolve the chloral in two ounces of water ; mix 
all together. Apply on the outside of the throat 
with a cotton cloth, and a flannel over it. 

Homceopathic. — Gangrenosa Malignant Sore- 
Throat. — The best remedies are: First. Apis., Car- 
bol. acid, Kali, bic, Lach., Phyt., Lach., Mur. cor., 
Nitr. ac, Salicyl. acid, Sulph. ac. Second. Bapt., 
Ars., Bell., Kali, brom., Mur. ac. Third. Alum., 
Amra. carb., Chlor. hyd., Ars., Kali, permang., 
Kreosote, Phosph., Arum, met., Ars. iod., 3.x. 
Prepare and use as usual. These classes should be 
alternated. 



EHEUMATISM. 

Iodide potassium, one-half ounce. 

Solid extract of conium, two drachms. 

Syrup aralia, compound of American Dispensa- 
tory, six ounces. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful three times a day. 

Dr. Pitzer says this never faiis to cure any kind 
of muscular rheumatism. 

Homceopathic. — For acute forms: — If swollen 
and inflamed, use the cotton-batten bandages, ex- 
clude the air and keep the parts warm; give Aeon., 
Apis., Caust., Colch., Ars., Phyt., Carbo. veg., Lach., 
Sep., Sulph., Apoc. can., Eup. pur. Salicylate of 
soda, 3.x. Prepare and take in the usual way. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 237 

FOE EICKETY CHILDREN. 

For little children whose muscles are flabby, the 
bones weak, and do not seem to grow strong, give 
them 

Hypophosphite of lime. 

Hypophosphite of potassium, of each one drachm. 

Hydrochloric acid. 

Fluid extract of Hydrastis (yellow root), of each 
one-half drachm. 

Lactopeptine, one-half drachm. 

Syrup of rhubarb, one-half ounce. 

Syrup of lemon, three ounces. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful three times a day. Bathe 
your child in soda water; alternate with salt and 
water. 

Homoeopathic. — Under this head we give, first. 
Asaf., Bell., Oalc. carb., Secale, Oaust., Lye, Nitr. 
ac, Phos. ac, Ign., Brom. amm„, Baryta, Sulph., 
Silicea, Kali, phos., 3.x. Prepare and give in the 
usual way. 



ERYSIPELAS. 



Dialyzed iron, half ounce. 
Tincture of iodine, ten drops. 
Sulphate of quinine, twenty grains. 
Glycerine, one and one-half ounces. 
Mix. 



238 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Dose, half a teaspoonful in a little water every 
three hours. 

In this disease, remember, the bowels must be 
kept open by cathartics, or injections of a little salt 
and water. 

For external treatment in erysipelas, use the fol- 
lowing prescription: 

Sulphate of soda, two drachms. 

Tincture of Dioscorea vil. (wild yam,) 

Tincture of Veratrum vir. 

Tincture of Lobelia seed, of each two drachms. 

Distilled water, four ounces. 

Mix. 

Wet a cotton cloth in this mixture and lay it on 
the affected parts and keep it moist with the med- 
icine. If the disease is on the face, care should be 
taken not to get any of the medicine in the eyes. 

Dose, to a child of five years old, half a teaspoon- 
ful in a little sweetened water, every one or two 
hours, as the case demands. 

Homoeopathic. Principal remedies : Aeon., 

Apis., Arn., Bell., Bry., Camph., Canth., Euphor- 
bium, Lach., Puis., Rhus., Sulph. Alternate with 
Borax, Salcylate of soda, Phyto., Graph., Cal. carb., 
Bapt., Sulph., Ferr. Prepare and give in the usual 
way; use the 3.x. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 239 

CHAPPED HANDS, FACE OE LIPS. 

Cosrnoline is the most excellent of anything we 
have ever used. Apply it several times a day. 



RHEUMATIC GOUT. 

Tincture of Iris versicolor (blue flag), three 
drachms; 

Tincture of Xanthoxylum (prickly ash), one 
drachm ; 

Glycerine, four ounces. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoon ful three times a day. Sponging 
and bathing the body are always called for in this 
disease. 

Homoeopathic. — If the joints are swollen much 
and very painful, they should be kept warm by 
bandages made from cotton batten. The best rem- 
edies: First. Puis., Apo. can., Cim. rac, Bry., Rhod., 
Rhus., for a few days; then followed by Colch., 
Eup. par.. Sang, can., Sulph., Salicylate of Soda. 
Use the 3.x. Prepare and take in the usual way. 



240 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

CONVULSIONS IN LITTLE CHILDREN. 

Bromide of sodium, forty grains 

Simple syrup, one-half ounce; 

Camphor water, one-half ounce. 
lix. 

Dose, teaspoonful every two or three hours. 

For a child three years old, three grains of bro- 
mide of sodium in a little simple syrup three times 
a day. 

Homceopathic. — Aconite, Ambrosia, Apis., Ars., 
Bell., Caust., Cham., Cina., Cupr., Coff., Gels., Ign., 
Ipec, Kali, brom., Lach., Lachn., Lil. tigr., Nux 
vom., Scutel., Stram., Sulph., Vir. alb. Use the 
3.x. Prepare and give in the usual way. The 
most simple way to bring the child out of the 
spasm is to force a little salt and water in its 
mouth; put its feet in hot water; as soon as it re- 
covers from the convulsion give Gels, and Bell, in 
alternation for several hours, or perhaps days, until 
all symptoms have subsided. 



PAINFUL MENSTRUATION. 

Fluid extract Dioscorea vil. (wild yam), one and* 
a half drachms; 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 241 

Fluid extract of Gelseminum, one drachm; 

Tincture of Aconite root, ten drops ; 

Glycerine, 

Water, of each, two ounces. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful every hour till relieved, then 
prolong the intervals. 

Homceopathic. — Menstrual difficulties. — Princi- 
pal remedies: Apis., Bell., Bry., Gels., Diosc. vil., 
Cal. carb., Oocc, Graph., Ign., Nux v., Sep., Phos., 
Sulph. Second. Alternate with Aeon., Amm., 
Carb. v., Caust., Cupr., Kali., Lach., Sil., Zinc, 
Cham., Phos. ac, Sabina., 3.x. 10 drops in half 
glass of water. Dose, teaspoonful every half, one 
or two hours, according to severity of case. Hot 
application to the abdomen either wet or dry. 



PKOFUSE MENSTRUATION. 

Fluid extract of Ergot, 

Fluid extract of Hammamelis, of each one 
drachm; 

Fluid extract of Cannabis indica (Indian hemp), 
two and one-half drachms; 

Fluid extract of Macroty's (black cohosh), one 
drachm; 

Glycerine, four ounces. 

Mix. 
16 



242 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Dose, teaspoonful every one or two hours, as the 
case requires, or it can be taken every half hour in 
urgent cases. As the symptoms improve prolong 
the intervals. 

Homceopathic. — Menorrhagia, Metrorrhagia.— 
First. Ham., Ergot., Croc, Ferr. met., Ilelon., 
Hyoc, Sab. Second. Alternate with Aeon., Aletr., 
Cal. carb., Carb. veg., Cimicif., Ign., Apo. can.* 
Asclep. tub., Bapt., Gels., Iris, ver., Phyto. 3.x. 
Prepare and give in the usual way. Perfect rest 
is the all-important thing during the flow.; then 
constitutional treatment between the periods. 



EHEUMATISM. 

Iodide of potassa, five drachms. 

Solid extract of Conium, two drachms. 

Syrup of aralia (the compound of the American 
Dispensatory), six ounces. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful three or four times a day. 

Dr. Pitzer says this will cure rheumatism when 
all other remedies fail. We have never tried it. 

Homceopathic. — We have given sufficient treat- 
ment for this disease under other headings. The 
most essential part is in keeping the system in 
good condition, that nature may have a chance to 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 



do her work readily and promptly; by so doing 
much suffering is avoided. Good blood with ac 
tive circulation will conquer nearly all ills. 



CATARRH SNUFF. 

Powdered bayberry root, one and one-half 
drachms. 

Powdered galangal root, one and one-half 
drachms. 

Powdered valerian, thirty-six grains. 

Powdered blood root, sixteen grains. 

Powdered camphor gum, fifteen grains. 

Powdered burnt alum, thirty-six grains. 

Mix, and triturate all together well. 

Snuff a little of this up the nostrils three or four 
times a day. It is the best we have ever used for 
catarrh, followed by the nasal douche once a day. 



CRAMPS IN THE STOMACH OR BOWELS. 

OR DIAPHORETIC POWDER. 

Powdered opium, ten grains. 
Powdered ipecac, twenty-five grains. 
Powdered camphor, forty grains. 



244 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Powdered saltpetre, two and one-half drachms. 

Mix, and triturate well together. 

From three to five grains at a dose; repeat if 
necessary, every three or four hours. Dr. Scudder 
says this is excellent in all such cases. 



PILES— HEMORRHOIDS. 

Fluid extract of Hammamelis. 

Fluid extract of Ergot. 

Fluid extract of Hydrastis canadensis. 

Tincture of Arnica. 

Tincture of Laudanum. 

Simple syrup. 

Distilled water, of each one ounce. 

Burnt alum, one-half drachm. 

Glycerine of tannin, one half ounce. 

Mix. 

Take a small ear syringe and inject ten or fifteen 
drops into the rectum; after which lie down and 
keep quiet; take a small tuft of cotton and satu- 
rate it with the mixture and keep it pressed up 
against the tumors, keep them constantly moist 
with the medicine for several days, or longer if 
required. If the medicine is too strong for the in- 
flamed parts, it can be weakened with a little sweet 
oil or simple syrup and oil. This will absorb the 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 245 

tumors in a very short time, as well as relieve the 
pain, and perform a cure in a very short time with- 
out resorting to surgical operations or caustics. 

This is the most valuable remedy ever given to 
the world. The author has never failed to cure 
every case he has undertaken. Ointments are use- 
less, except the cosmoline. 

INTERNAL REMEDY FOR HEMORRHOIDS. 

Tincture of ^Esculas hipp., (horse-chestnut). 

Tincture of Phytolacca decand. (poke-root), of 
each one-half ounce. 

Mix. 

Dose, twenty drops in half a tumbler of water; 
teaspoonful every hour. 

This should be taken for several days, mixing it 
fresh every day. 

Homceopathic. — Principal Remedies :-lst, Aeon. 
JEscul. hipp., Ars., Ant. crude, Bell., Cal. carb., 
Caps., Carb. v., Cham., Collins., Diosc, Ham., Ign., 
Hydr., Mur. ac, Phos. acid, Nux v. 2d, Alter- 
nate with Ambi\, Aloes, Amm. carb., Amra. mur., 
Causticum, Chel., Chin., Erig., Graph., Kali, bic, 
Lach., Lept., Phyto., 3.x. Prepare and take in the 
usual way. With the above external application and 
these remedies you may always expect prompt and 
permanent relief, 



246 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

NUKSING SORE MOUTH. 

Pure rain water, one half gallon. 

Pulverized Hydrastis (yellow root), one ounce. 

Burnt alum, one ounce. 

Table salt, one ounce. 

"While you are burning the alum, and it is bub- 
bling, sprinkle the salt over the alum. Mix all to- 
gether with the juice of two lemons; let stand in 
the sun three or four days, shaking occasionally. 
Apply to the gums and ulcers with a cotton rag 
two or three times a day. If it is too strong, weak- 
en with a little sugar and water. 

Dr. J. Bobb says this never fails to cure these 
troubles. 

INTERNAL MEDICINE FOR SAME. 

Neutralizing cordial, of American Dispensatory, 
four ounces. 

Fluid extract of collinsonia (stone root). 

Fluid extract of Hydrastis canadensis, of each 
two drachms. 

Fluid extract of Macroty's (black cohosh). 

Fluid extract of Eupatorium aromaticum (snake 
root), of each one half ounce. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful three or four times a day. For 
a child, weaken accordingly. 



G-EMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 247 

Homoeopathic. — Close attention to ventilation 
and hygiene; swab the mouth often with sage tea 
and haney, or solution of borax-water, golden 
thread or Gum Arabic. A few remedies may be 
called for: Aeon., Merc, cor., Puis., Bell., Nux 
vonio Prepare and give in the usual way. 



NIPPLE WASH. (Dr. Attler's Celebrated.) 

Powdered borax, one drachm 

Gum Arabic, two drachms. 

Tincture of myrrh, three drachms. 

Distilled water, four ounces. 

Mix. 

Apply to the nipple two or three times a day. 

HoMceoPATHic. — Bathe the nipple in tepid water 
before and after nursing the baby; a weak solution 
oi arnica or hamamelis for a wash is good. Few 
remedies are required, Cal. carb., Ham., Sil., 
Sulph. Prepare and give as usmd. 



SPRAINS. 

Take a large spoonful of honey, the same amount 
of salt, the white of one egg; beat the whole in- 
cessantly for two hours; let stand for one hour; 



248 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

then anoint the place sprained with the oil which 
will be produced from the mixture. This is said 
to have enabled persons with sprained ankles to 
walk in twenty-four hours, entirely free from pain. 
King. 



HEALING SAL YE 

One-half pound of beeswax, one-half pound of 
salty butter, one-quarter pound of turpentine, six 
ounces of the balsam of fir. Simmer slowly for 
half an hour, when it is ready for use. 

Dr. Curtiss has used this preparation for years 
for old sores, wounds and burns, and has never 
found anything to surpass it. 



RING WORM AND TETTER. 

A strong tincture made from green walnut hulls, 
and applied externally to the ring worm. Take 
half a pint of alcohol and add a handful of green 
hulls to it, let it stand for five or six days; this is the 
way to get .the tincture. Also, teaspoonful of this 
tincture added to a half tumbler of water; stir well, 
and take a teaspoonful every hour internally. It 
is advisable to take it for three or four days, mak- 
ing it fresh every morning. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 249 

ENLAEGEMENT OF THE SPLEEN. 

Fluid extract of Grindelia squarrosa (new rem- 
edy). 

Fluid extract of Polymnia uvedalia (bearsfoot), 
of each one ounce. 

Glycerine. 

Distilled water, of each one ounce. 

Mix. 

Dose, teaspoonful every three hours. 

Get your druggist to prepare it for you. 



GOOD FOE THE KIDNEYS IN DEOPSICAL 
AFFECTIONS. 

Bruised Juniper berries. 

Mustard seed. 

Ginger, of each one-half ounce. 

Bruised horse-radish. 

Bruised parsley root, of each one ounce. 

Old sour cider, one quart. 

Let stand and infuse for several days. 

Dose, wineglassfull three times a day. 

This is excellent for all kidney troubles. 



250 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

SURE CURE FOE BUNIONS, OR FROST- 
BITES. 

Take the common glue, prepare it in the same 
way the cabinet makers do, only thicker; spread it 
on a piece of linen the size you want it, and apply 
it to the bunion as hot as can be borne; let it re- 
main for several days, and repeat if necessary. It 
will do it every time. 



SCURVY. 



Plenty of lemon juice, sweetened to taste, cures 
every time. Lemon syrup, or syrup of citric acid, 
may be used. 



VALUABLE TOOTH WASH. 

Gum guaiacum. 

Orris root, of each one ounce. 

Camphor gum, one drachm. 

Put these ingredients iri a pint of good brandy; 
let the mixture infuse for ten days, shaking it oc- 
casionally; then strain the mixture through a cot- 
ton cloth into a clean bottle. 

Wash and cleanse the teeth once in twenty-four 
hours with this preparation, and bleeding, en- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 251 

larger] or detached gums will be healed, lessened 
and restored in their proper place, and the tooth- 
ache will seldom be experienced. This is the most 
valuable preparation we have ever used. 



TOOTH-AOHE. 

For immediate relief: 

Oil of cloves. 

Oil of cinnamon. 

Creosote, of each half drachm. 

Chloroform, half ounce. 

Mix. 

Take a tuft of cotton wound around the end of a 
little stick; saturate it in the mixture, and bathe 
the gum on each side of the tooth with the medi- 
cine. If the tooth has a cavity, put a piece of cot- 
ton saturated with the medicine in it. This will 
smart and burn for a little while, but no matter; it 
will cure the tooth-ache. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 

Tablespoonful of the juice of a roasted lemon, 
sweetened to taste, is an excellent remedy for coughs, 
taken every two or three hours. 

The juice of one lemon to half glass of water. 



252 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

sweetened a little, used as a gargle, will cure many 
mild cases of diphtheria, a little swallowed each 
time is all the better. 

With the juice of two lemons added to a gill of 
water and one of brandy, applied externally, we 
have cured many cases of erysipelas after all other 
remedies had failed. 

The juice of one lemon, sweetened to taste, half 
a teaspoonful taken every fifteen minutes, has 
cured many cases of sick headache. 

Lemonade is also an admirable drink for all 
kinds of fevers. 

It is also a refreshing drink for those who are 
well, when tired and thirsty. 

Equal parts of lemon juice and glycerine will, 
ordinarily, remove tan and freckles from the face 
and hands. Try it. 



MAGNETIC LOTION, OR LINIMENT, FOR 
THE BODY. 

Oil of amber, 

Oil of lavender, 

Oil of origanum, 

Oil of sassafras, 

Oil of spearmint, of each, half ounce; 

Oil of olives, one ounce; 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 253 

Spirits of turpentine, half ounce; 

Aqua ammonia, half ounce; 

Tincture of opium, one ounce; 

Alcohol, not quite one pint. 

Mix. 

This lotion is excellent for bathing the chest or 
the entire body of those who have weak lungs, or 
any one from loss of vitality; it is splendid for all 
kinds of sore throat; bathe the throat well, then 
saturate a flannel with the medicine and pin it 
around the throat. Some of our patients have pro- 
nounced this remedy splendid for rheumatism, or 
sprains, and weak back. 



MAGNETIC LINIMENT, FOR RHEUMA- 
TISM, SPRAINS, OR STIFF JOINTS. 

Oil of lavender, 

Oil of sassafras, 

Oil of cedar, 

Oil of origanum, 

Oil of spearmint, 

Aqua ammonia, fff, of each, two ounces. 

The whites of three eggs, well mixed with half a 
pint of alcohol. Dilute part of it with water, pour 
on the eggs, little at a time, and shake hard; then 
pour on a little more and shake, and so on, as the 



254 GEMS 0FKN0WLEDGE. 

alcohol will cook the eggs if it is poured full 
strength and all at once. After the eggs are well 
amalgamated, acid the balance of the ingredients; 
then add half an ounce of tincture of camphor. Shake 
well every time you use it, as the mixture sepa- 
rates on standing. This is the most valuable lini- 
ment ever given to the world for this purpose. It 
must be kept well corked, or the medicine will 
evaporate. Apply it with the hand, and rub in 
well. Don't be in a hurry; take plenty of time in 
applying it; the medicine is slow in penetrating the 
muscles and membranes. The author has made 
many remarkable cures with this liniment, after all 
hopes of the patient have fled. 



POISON OAK, OK IVY. 

Cosmoline, one ounce; 

Bromine, one-half drachm. 

Mix. 

Apply to the affected parts two or three times a 
day. Wash the medicine off twice a day with a 
little castile soap and soda water. On going to bed 
apply the medicine thoroughly. Warm the cosmo- 
line, so the bromine will mix well; keep the bottle 
w r ell corked, and setting bottom side up, as the bro- 
mine escapes upward. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 255 



FOR THE ITCH. 



Oil of bergamot, half ounce; 

Glycerine, one and one-half ounces. 

Mix. 

Apply in the evening and wash off in the morn- 
ing with a little soda water and soap. Pleasant and 
effectual. (Dr. Younkin.) 

Homceopathio. — This disease is caused by very 
small parasites investing the cutaneous surface; 
and in order to cure it radical external treatment 
must be given; general friction of the whole body; 
after being thoroughly washed with hot soap suds 
for half an hour, dry with a towel; then anoint 
the body all over with a preparation of lard, 300 
gms. ; flour sulph., 50 gms. ; subcarb. of potash, 25 
gms. Apply on going to bed; take another bath 
in the morning; continue the treatment for three 
successive nights, and, if necessary, repeat. Your 
druggist will prepare it for you. In addition to 
this, we select some remedies to aid the external 
treatment: Arsen., Sulph., Oarbo. veg., Phyto., 
Sepia., Hep. sulph., Rumex. crisp., Apis. Prepare 
and take in the usual way. 



POISONS AND THEIR ANTI- 
DOTES. 



Nothing that pertains to domestic treatment is 
of greater value than a knowledge of poisons and 
the treatment necessary in cases of accidental or 
premeditated poisoning. So many substances of a 
poisonous nature are used in manufactures, among 
farmers and mechanics, and also in private houses, 
that it will be useful to have a guide to refer to in 
case of accident, for in almost every case of poison- 
ing the antidote must be instantly given or else re- 
lief cannot be expected. 

As a general rule, in all cases of poisoning, es- 
pecially if seen immediately after the poison is 
swallowed, the first thing to do is to make the per- 
son vomit. To bring this about, give a teaspoonful 
of mustard in a tumbler of water, or two or three 
teaspoonfuls of powdered alum in the same way. 
Vomiting can in all cases be promoted by tickling 
the throat with a feather. 



ABSENIC. 



Articles. — Scheele's green, arsenious acid, arpi- 

(256) 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 257 

ment, King s yellow, realgar, fly powder, arsenical 
paste and soap, rat poison. 

Symptoms. — Pain and burning in the stomach, 
dryness of throat, cramps, purging, vomiting, 
hoarseness and difficulty of speech, eyes red and 
sparkling, suppression of urine, matter vomited 
greenish or yellowish. 

Treatment. — Give large quantities of milk and 
raw eggs, lime water, or flour and water; then cas- 
tor oil, or if tincture of iron is within reach, take 
from half to a full teaspoonful of it, and mix with 
a little bi-carbonate of soda or saleratus, and ad- 
minister it to the patient, and follow with an emet- 
ic. This acts as a real antidote — the chemical 
combination being insoluble in the fluids of the 
stomach. 



COPPER. 



Articles. — Blue copperas, blue verditer, mineral 
green, verdigris, food cooked in copper vessels, 
pickles made green by copper. 

Symptoms. — Coppery taste in the mouth, tongue 
dry and parched, very painful colic, bloody stools, 
convulsions. 

Treatment. — Large quantities of milk and white 
of eggs, afterwards strong tea. Vinegar should 
not be given. 
17 



258 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

IRON. 

Articles. — Sulphate of iron (copperas), green 
vitriol, chloride of iron. 

Symptoms. — Colic pains, constant vomiting and 
purging, violent pain in throat, coldness of skin, 
feeble pulse. 

Treatment. — Give an emetic, afterward magne- 
sia or carbonate of soda and water; also mucilagi- 
nous drinks. 



LEAD. 



Articles. — Acetate, or sugar of lead, white lead,, 
red lead, litharge. 

Symptoms.— Metallic taste in mouth, pain in 
stomach and bowels, painful vomiting — often blood, 
hiccough. If taken for some time, obstinate colic, 
paralysis — partial or complete, obstinate constipa- 
tion, diminution of urine. 

Treatment. — Put two ounces of epsom salts into 
a pint of water and give a wineglassful every ten 
minutes until it operates freely. 



PHOSPHORUS. 

Article. — Lucifer matches. 
Symptoms. — Pain in stomach and bowels, vomit- 
ing, diarrhea, tenderness and tension of the 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 259 

abdomen, great excitement of the whole system. 
Treatment. — Prompt emetic, copious draughts 
of warm water containing magnesia, chalk, whit 
ing, or even flour. No oils or fat should be given. 



OPIUM. 



Articles. — Laudanum, paregoric, black drop, 
soothing syrups, cordials, syrup of poppies, mor- 
phine, Dover's powder, etc. 

Symptoms. — Giddiness, stupor — gradually in- 
creasing to a deep sleep, pupil of the eyes very 
small, lips blue, skin cold, heavy, slow, breathing. 

Treatment. — Produce vomiting as quickly as 
possible. Use mustard and warm water or salt and 
water; tickle the throat with a feather. After vom- 
iting, give plenty of coffee, and place a mustard 
poultice around the calf of each leg; if the patient 
be cold and sinking, give stimulants and rouse him 
to walking or running by your assistance. Beat 
the soles of the feet, dash cold water on the face; 
do anything to prevent him from sleeping until 
the effects have parsed oft', for if he goes to sleep it 
is the sleep of death. 



STRYCHNINE. 

Articles. — Rat poison, mix vomica. St. [gnatir ; 
bean. 



260 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Symptoms. — Lockjaw, twitching of the muscles, 
convulsions, the body is bent backward so as to rest 
on the feet and head only. 

Treatment. — Empty the stomach by an emetic, 
then give linseed tea or barley water. To an adult 
give thirty drops of laudanum, to relieve the 
spasms. A teaspoonful of ether may also be given. 



OTHER POISONOUS PLANTS OR SEEDS. 

Such as false mushrooms, belladonna, henbane, 
or anything a child may have eaten; or taken 
through mistake. Vegetable poisons act either as 
an irritant, acro-narcotic or narcotic. If it is an 
irritant, the symptoms are an acrid, pungent taste, 
with more or less bitterness, excessive heat, great 
dryness of the mouth and throat, with a sense of 
tightness; violent vomiting, purging, with great 
pain in the stomach and bowels, breathing quick 
and difficult, appearance of intoxication, pupil fre- 
quently dilated, insensibility, resembling death. 
The symptoms of narcotic poisons are described 
under Opium. 

Treatment. — If an irritant, and vomiting does 
occur and continues, render it easier by large 
draughts of warm water, but if symptoms of insen- 
sibility have come on without vomiting, empty the 
stomach with any emetic that may be at hand. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 261 

After the emetic, give a sharp purgative. After as 
much of the poison is got rid of as possible, very 
strong coffee, or vinegar diluted with water, may 
be given with great advantage. Camphor mixture 
with a little ether may be frequently given, and if 
insensibility be great, warmth and friction should 
be employed. 



HOW TO PREPARE POULTICES. 

Equal parts of ground flax seed, slippery elm 
bark and oatmeal, for general purposes, is the best 
we have ever used. It can be mixed with either 
hot or cold water, as desired. If the surface is very 
tender, it is better to be warm when applied. It 
should be well mixed, so there are no lumps in it; 
not too thin or too thick. This poultice will keep 
moist longer than either of the above ingredients 
by itself. This is the way we prescribe our poul- 
tices to be made: 

BREAD POULTICE. 

Take several slices of bread, pour over them suf- 
ficient hot water, and let stand for an hour or so, 
that the bread may be soft; then pour off the water, 
and with a fork beat the bread into a thick dough; 
spread on a piece of linen previously cut the size 



262 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

you wish it. Bread poultices are very valuable for 
their bland effect for all irritating surfaces. 

For gangrenous and bad smelling ulcers or 
sores of any kind, sprinkle some pulverized char- 
coal over the ulcer before applying the poultice; it 
can also be mixed with the poultice. Charcoal 
poultices correct offensive smells from foul sores, 
and favor a healthy action. 

Poultices are chiefly used in the following com- 
plaints: Pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchitis, peri- 
tonitis, acute rheumatism, lumbago, and to mature 
and facilitate the discharges of matter in abscesses, 
boils, etc. When used to mature abscesses or dis- 
perse inflammation, poultices should always extend 
beyond the surface of the inflamed tissues, but af- 
ter the inflammation is subdued, and the abscess 
discharging, the poultice should not be much larg- 
er than to just cover the opening through which 
the matter is escaping; if continued too large, they 
irritate, and may develop other boils or abscesses 
around the old one. Poultices over the chest or 
abdomen should be made very thick, as they dry 
very soon. They must be. well secured by suitable 
jackets or bandages sufficient to hold them in place. 
They should be changed often; do not disturb the 
old one till the new one is ready to be replaced. 

Poultices can be made from many different kinds 
of substances that have valuable medicinal prop- 
erties. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 263 

POTATO POULTICE. 

Boil the common potato in the usual way, mash 
and mix with ground elm bark. This is a valuable 
poultice for acute inflammatory sore eyes, applied 
very thin and changed often. Also, the raw, scraped 
potato, in the shape of a poultice, is very valuable 
for the same purpose. 

MUSTARD POULTICE. 

If you wish a very quick action from this poul- 
tice, mix the mustard with vinegar alone into a 
thick paste, spread it on the cloth thin with a case- 
knife, lay it on the affected parts. It will take ef- 
fect in a very few minutes. You can oil the skin a 
little, so the mustard will not stick or annoy your 
patient. This is the way it should be applied to 
the soles of the feet, if you expect any benefit from 
it, and changed often. But if you wish it to wOrk 
slow, you can mix it with equal parts vinegar and 
water, and add a little wheat flour to the mustard; 
spread on your cloth a little thicker than the other 
way; then lay a very thin piece of linen over the 
mustard before you apply it to the patient.. A 
mustard poultice should be kept on from ten to 
twenty minutes at least, till the skin is drawn very 
red and is irritable afterwards. It is said that if 
the white of an egg is mixed with the mustard it 
will never draw into a blister, and thus it can be 
kept on longer, which is very beneficial. 



264 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

HOW TO MAKE FOMENTATIONS. 

Fomentations are employed for the purpose of 
lessening pain and inflammation, and for relaxing 
the parts. They are usually composed of bitter 
herbs, steeped for a time in hot water or vinegar 
and water, then placed in muslin cloth or sacks 
and applied over the affected parts as hot as can be 
borne. Care should be taken not to moisten or 
stain the patient's clothes. They are to be re- 
moved often and changed for hot ones; if the pain 
or inflammation is severe, the oftener they are 
changed the better. 

Hop and vinegar fomentations are very valuable 
for pain in the head, bowels, or any other part of 
the body. 

St. Johnswort or poke root are very valuable, ap- 
plied hot to the breasts, to disperse or scatter in- 
flammatory condition, caked breasts or tumors and 
swellings; the wild indigo fomentation is valuable. 
The smart- weed is also good. 

The mullein fomentation surpasses everything 
we know of for dispelling bruises or swellings in 
man or beast. A strong decoction made from the 
mullein leaves, applied hot or cold, to sprains. We 
have used it for years with astonishing results. 



RULES TO ADMINISTER 
MEDICINE. 



Suppose the dose for an adult to be one drachm: 

A child under 1 year will require but one-twelfth, or 5 grains. 

44 2 years '• one-eighth, or 8 grains. 

" 3 " 4< one sixth, or 10 grains 

" 4 il " one quarter,or 15 grains. 

*• 7 " " one-third, or 1 scruple. 

" 13 " " one-half, or i drachm 

" 20 " u two-thirds, or 2 scruples. 

A person over 21 years, the full dose of one 
drachm. 

A person of 75, the inverse gradation of the above. 

This is an excellent table for regulating the 
doses of medicines. A mixture, powder, pill or 
draught may be proportioned to a nicety by atten- 
tion to the above rules. 



TO MEASURE MEDICINE INSTEAD OF 
WEIGHING. 

A drachm of any substance that is near the 
weight of water, will till a common teaspoon level 
full. Four teaspoonfuls make a tablespoonful, or 

(265) 



266 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

one-half ounce. Two tablespoonfuls, an ounce, and 
so on. On the same principle, one-third of a tea- 
spoonful will be one scruple, or twenty grains in 
weight. 



DOSES VARIED ACCORDING TO AGE. 

The doses of medicines recommended for an 
adult (or grown person), may be varied to the age 
of the patient, according to the following rule: 

Two-thirds of the dose for a person from fourteen to sixteen. 
One-half " " seven to ten. 

One-third " *' four to six. 

One-fourth " " three years old. 

One-eighth 4< " one year old. 



LIQUID MEASURE. 

A tablespoonful contains half an ounce ; 

A pint " sixteen ounces; 

A teacup " one gill ; 

A wineglass " two ounces; 

A teaspoonful " sixty drops ; 

Four teaspoonfuls are equal to one tablespoonful. 



DRY MEASURE. 

A tablespoonful contains four drachms, or half an ounce ; 
A teaspoonful " one drachm ; 

A teaspoonful M sixty grains. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 267 

DOSES OF MEDICINE. 

The following scale has been established for the 
regulation of the doses of medicine in general: 

If the dose for a person of middle age be one 
drachm, the dose for one from fourteen to twenty- 
one years of age will be two scruples, or two-thirds 
as much. 

From seven to fourteen, half a drachm, or one- 
half. 

From four to seven, one scruple, or one-third. 

The dose for a child of four years will be fifteen 
grains, or one-quarter. 

For a child three years old, ten grains, or half a 
scruple. 

For two years old, eight grains. 

For a year old, five grains, or one-twelfth as 
much as for a person of middle age. 

Women, in general, require smaller doses than 
men, owing to a difference in size and constitution. 

Since the Fluid Extracts and Specific Tinctures 
have been introduced the doses are much smaller 
than the above table, but they are of the same ratio 
as the above scale. 



LIST OF HOMGEOPATHIC 
REMEDIES 

USED I3ST THIS B O O K . 



Acid bromicnm. 
Acid carbolic. 
Acid hydrocyanic. 
Acid muriatic. 
Acid nitric. 
Acid phosphoric. 
Acid sulphuricum. 
Aconitum nap. 
^Esculus glabra. 
iEsculuB hippocast. 
Ailanthus gland. 
Aletrin. 
Alnus rubra. 
Alunin. 
Aloe socatrina. 
Ahimen. 
Aluminium. 
Alumina. 
Ambrosia. 

Ammonium bromide. 
A mmonium carbon. 



Ammonium muriat. 
Ammonium phosph. 
Anacardium orient, 
Antimon. crudum. 
Antimon. iod. 
Antimon. arseniate. 
Antim. tartaricum. 
Apis mellifica. 
Apocynum cannabin. 
Argentum met. 
Argentum nitric. 
Arnica montana. 
Arsenicum album. 
Arsenicum met. 
Arum macu latum. 
Arum triphyllum. 
Asafcetida. 
Asclepias inc. 
Asclepias tuberosa. 
Aurum met. 
Baptisia tinct. 
(268) 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 



269 



Baryta acetic. 
Baryta carbon. 
Baryta muriatica. 
Belladonna. 
Benzoic acid. 
Bismuthum metall. 
Bisrauthum nitric. 
Borax. 
Bromium. 
Bryonia alba. 
Buchu. 
Cactus grand. 
Calabar bean. 
Calcarea carb. 
Calcarea chlor. 
Calcarea hypophosp. 
Calcarea jod. 
Calcarea phosphor. 
Camphora. 
Camphor mon., B. 
Cantharis. 
Capsicum annum. 
Oarbo animalis. 
Carbo vegetabilis. 
Carbolic acid. 
Caulophyll. thalict. 
Caulophyllin. 
Causticum. 
Cedron. 



Cepa. 

Chamomilla. 
Chelidonium majus. 
Chelone glabra. 
Chimaphila umb. 
China oft*. 
Chionanthus virg. 
Chloral, hydrat. 
Cimicifuga racem. 
Cina. 

Cinchona off. 
Cocculus. 
Coccus cacti. 
Cochlearia armora. 
Coffea cruda. 
Colchicnm Autumn. 
Collinsonia Can. 
Colocynthis. 
Conium maculatum. 
Copavia off. 
Corydalis formosa. 
Cosmolin. 
Crocus sativa. 
Cubeba off. 
Cuprum acetic. 
Cuprum carbonic 
Cuprum met. 
Digitalin. 
Digitalis purp. 



270 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 



Dioscorea vill. 
Dulcamara. 
Erigeron Canad. 
Ergotin. 

Eucalyptus glob. 
Euonymus atrop. 
Euonymus Europseus. 
Eupatorium purp. 
Ferri brom. 
Ferrum met. 
Gelseminum nitid. 
Gentiana aquifolium. 
Geran maculatum. 
Glonomum. 
Graphites. 
Grindelia robust. 
Guarana. 

Hamamelis virginica. 
Helianthus annus. 
Helleborus niger. 
Helonias dioica. 
Hepar sulphus. calc. 
Hepar sulph. kalic. 
Hydrastis Canaden. 
Hydrocyanic acid. 
Hyoscyamus niger. 
Hypericum perforat. 
Ignatia amara. 
Indigo. 



Ipecacuanha. 
Iris versicolor. 
Jalappa. 
Juglans regia. 
Kali bichromic. 
Kali brom. 
Kali carbonic. 
Kali chloric. 
Kali permangan. 
Kali Hypophos. 
Kali phosphoric. 
Kreosotum. 
Lachesis. 
Lachnantes tinct. 
Ledum palustre. 
Leptandra virg. 
Lilium tiginurn. 
Lithium brom. 
Lobelia inflata. 
Lycopodium clavat. 
Lycopus virginicus. 
Macrotis racem. 
Melilotus. 
Mercur. sol. Hahn. 
Mercur. subl. cor. 
Mercurius vivus. 
Monobromide camph. 
Moschus. 
Muriat. acid. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 



271 



Mygale avicularia. 

Myosotis, 

Natrum carbonicum. 

Natrum muriaticum. 

Natrum sulphuricum. 

Niccolurn sulph. 

Nitric acid. 

Nux moschata. 

Nux vomica. 

Oleander. 

Opium. 

Per Manganate of Pot. 

Petroleum. 

Phosphoric acid. 

Phosphorus. 

Phosphate of Lime. 

Phytolacca decand. 

Plantago major. 

Platina. 

Plumbum carbon. 

Plumbum met. 

Podophyllum. 

Polygala Senega. 

Pulsatilla nigricans. 

Quinine. 

Rhododendron. 

Rhus Toxicodendron. 

Rhus Rad. 

Rumex crisp us. 



Sabadilla. 

Sabina. 

Salicin. 

Salicyl. acidum. 

Sanguinaria Canad. 

Sanguinarin. 

Santoninum. 

Scillamaritima. 

Scutellaria laterif. 

Scutellarin. 

Secale cereale. 

Secale cornutumc 

Senna. 

Sepia. 

Silicea. 

Silicon. 

Soda S. carb. 

Sodse hypophosphas. 

Spigelia anthelmint 

Spongia tosta. 

Squill a maritima. 

Stayphysagria. 

Stramonium. 

Sulphur. 

Sulphur, tinctura. 

Sulphuric acid. 

Symphytum off, 

Tartarus emeticus. 

Tartaric acid. 



272 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 



Terebinthina. 
Trillium pendulum. 
Uranum nitr. 
Urtica dioica. 
Urtica urens. 
Ustillago madis. 
Urva ursi. 
Valeriana officin. 
Yeratrum album. 



Yeratrum viride. 
Viburnum opulus. 
Xanthoxyl. fraxin. 
Yerba santa. 
Zinci phosphodium 
Zinc brom. 
Zincum carbonic. 
Zincum met. 
Zincum valerian. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



The reader of our book will see we have not 
gone into any description whatever of medicinal 
plants — as is usually done in all other domestic 
medical works — for the reason you will see more 
fully explained in an article on Progress of Medi- 
cine, given at the close of our book, which we wish 
you to read carefully. But, instead, we have given 
you our Prescriptions, just as we would write them 
should you come to see us; you can go to the drug 
store, get the fluid extracts and mother tinctures, 
which are now made from roots and herbs gathered 
in their proper season. The science of Botany and 
Chemistry have taught us how to extract the ac- 
tive medicinal principles from these plants; there- 
fore the manufacturing scientists, who are respon- 
sible parties, have now men of science and experi- 
ence constantly employed gathering these medici- 
nal plants from all over the country, the result of 
which is that, within the last three or four years, 
the scientific pharmacies have given to the world a 
universal standard strength from the active medici- 
nal principles of the medicinal plants. This is a 
great achievement, a triumph which we have never 
13 (273) 



274 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

known before. This fact gives to the physician, as 
well as the people, the advantages of procuring at 
any first-class druggist a pure article of the active 
principle of any drug we want. No matter where 
obtained, you can rely upon it as a universal stand- 
ard of strength. These drugs are in the shape of 
fluid extracts, specific tinctures, the sulphates, res- 
inoids and alcoloids. 

This is very desirable, from the fact it makes the 
dose so small and much more agreeable to the 
taste, the dose being only drops and grains and 
fractions of grains, from a half drachm to a drachm,, 
and far more reliable in its effect. These are facts 
which are certainly very desirable to know, when 
we consider, a few years ago, we were in the night 
of ignorance, we had to gather the plants regard- 
less of their season, boil and stew them to make 
teas and decoctions, which were of the crude mate- 
rial, and pour down the throats of patients whole 
teacupfuls, and in many cases a pint for a dose. 
Then we were ignorant of the fact that the stomach 
and human system must be their own chemical 
laboratory, out of which this pint dose, after a great 
deal of labor on the part of the stomach, could only 
extract about half a drop of the active principle of 
the drug, the balance being wholly waste material 
that the human system must labor to rid itself of. 

Hence, our book is a timely messenger, that you 
may know you need not, should not, buy any more 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 275 

roots and herbs at a drug store, thinking to make 
your own medicine, for you can't do it; besides^ 
many of these crude drugs have been lying in the 
store for years, all worm-eaten and dusty, and as 
worthless as a handful of chips gathered from an 
old wood-pile, while the active principles of the 
drug made from the green root gathered in its 
proper season and manufactured into fluid extract, 
tincture, etc., will keep for years in well-corked 
bottles. Hence, you can see, if we have a univer- 
sal standard of strength agreed upon by the scien- 
tific pharmacists, we are safe, since the only com- 
petition consists in the different manufacturing 
houses to see which can outdo the other in furnish- 
ing the world from this standard of strength a 
purer article of drugs, more palatable, and therefore 
more desirable. 

This, dear reader, is the reason we have said 
nothing about the medicinal plants in our book, 
but given you our Prescriptions, and directed you 
to your druggist and have them filled. The cost 
of these prescriptions in many instances will be 
much higher than they used to be, on account of 
their purity. However, what you pay now you 
will more than save in the quality, as much less in 
quantity is required. 



HYGIENE. 

Hygiene differs from medicine, but bears a close 
relationship to it. Hygiene prevents disease, and 
medicine cures. It bears a close connection to 
physiology, which teaches the laws of life and 
health; to chemistry, which reveals the nature of 
poisons, whether taken in the air we breathe, the 
food we eat, or the fluids we drink. Hygiene aims 
to discover the cause of disease and death, and the 
means of averting or altering these causes to pre- 
vent these calamities. To do this it classifies the 
factors of life under AIR, FOOD, WATER and 
HEAT. 

There can be no animal life without air. The 
smallest insect needs a supply of oxygen. This it 
must draw from the atmosphere, and when once ob- 
tained, it produces its chemical changes in the in- 
terior of the insect. Each living cell of which its 
body is composed contributes to the aggregate of 
its life, only as it is acted upon by the oxygen re- 
ceived. It is this fact that lies at the foundation 
of a thousand inquiries in regard to the ventilation 
of dwellings, shops, churches, etc.; indeed, of all 
places where there are living beings. By this great 
fact we are enabled to explain a large per cent, of 

(276) 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 277 

disease and death, and the more this is studied and 
heeded, the more will longevity be promoted, the 
health of cities and communities enhanced. But 
we are also to remember the air we breathe not 
only supplies us with oxygen, but it is the great 
repository of all the exhalants from the earth, de- 
cayed animal and vegetable matter. It comes to 
us sometimes loaded with poisons. Being absorbed 
into the blood, they work their destructive action 
on the body, damaging the functions of life, and 
often destroying the existence altogether. 

Water is another factor of organic life. With- 
out it no chemical change can take place in the 
living body. Water enters into ail the composi- 
tion of organized beings. A man that weighs 150 
pounds, contains 111 pounds of water in his tissues. 
All the solid materials of the body are carried to 
their places by the agency of water. All the higher 
animals drink water for this purpose; and the adult 
human being takes, upon an average, from seventy 
to eighty ounces of water daily. Water is a potent 
chemical agent; its solvent power is equal to that 
of the mineral acids, and associates itself with a 
vast number of compounds. It dissolves both or- 
ganic and inorganic matter; but it may become so 
impregnated with poisonous substances as to unfit 
it for the purposes of life. 

The human body requires varied compounds of 
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen in the 



278 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

shape of food. Air and water of themselves, 
though they fill an important place in the economy 
of life, cannot supply the system with elements 
necessary for the play of chemical forces which re- 
sult in vital phenomena. The blood must be sup- 
plied with chloride of lime, the muscles must have 
potash, the bile must have sulphur, the saliva cya- 
nogen, the nerves phosphorus, the hair, teeth and 
nails must have silica. If the diet is deficient, dis- 
ease will invade the system most certainly. Ar- 
mies have been starved on an excessive diet of salt 
beef. Children have been sacrificed by confine- 
ment to starchy food. The human body may have 
too much of one thing and not enough of another. 
What, then, is a healthy diet? "We answer, such as 
contains the constituents of the human body. Sci- 
ence and instinct both answer this question. They 
reach the same goal; in this connection comes up 
the question of nervous stimulants, as tea, coffee, to- 
bacco, opium and alcoholic drinks, for which we 
have no space in this volume. Suffice it to say, they 
are not necessary except as medicines. 



THE HISTOEY AND ORIGIN 
OF MEDICINE. 



Medicine is, no doubt, coeval with the history of 
human suffering, but as a profession, it first began 
in the early accounts given of the Egyptians. The 
priests of the early nations were the practitioners 
of the healing art, but from all accounts they were 
exceedingly empirical, making use of but few rem- 
edies, the most of which were external applications, 
together witli incantations aud ceremonies to af- 
fect the imagination, though their efficiency in 
curing disease was, for the most part, due to their 
knowledge of a few medicinal principles. 

Hippocrates was the first to arrange the princi- 
ples of medicine into an attempted science, while 
^Esculapius first made it an exclusive study and 
practice. ^Esculapius flourished about twelve hun- 
dred and fifty years before Christ; his two sons be- 
came celebrated surgeons in the Greek armies dur- 
ing the Trojan war. 

Fifty years after the destruction of Troy, a tem- 
ple was built in honor of yEsculapius, who was 
then worshiped as one of the gods. 

The worship of this god soon spread throughout 
(279) 



280 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

all Greece and passed into Asia, Africa and Italy* 
so that multitudes of temples were erected in hon- 
or to his name, and in which he was worshiped. 

These temples were erected in the midst of the 
most delightful scenery, and statutes of colossal 
proportions were erected to represent the god of 
medicine. 

Pythagoras first introduced the practice of vis- 
iting patients at their homes: (500 years B. 0.) 
He rejected all theories in medicine, and contended 
that experience was the only safe guide to a suc- 
cessful practice. 

About three hundred years before Christ, Ptol- 
emy founded a medical school in Alexandria in 
Egypt, and among the Ptolemies the most cele- 
brated were Erasistratus and Herophilus, who 
were the first to dissect the dead. These men op- 
posed blood-letting and the use of all violent rem- 
edies and trusted to nature in the cure of disease. 
They paid particular attention to the action of the 
heart, and were the first to observe the pulse and 
its variations 

The Pythagoreans became the dominant school, 
partly through the earnest efforts of Hippocrates 
(430 years B. C.) who opened up an earnest war- 
fare upon the superstitious ceremonies of the ^Es- 
culapian priests, though he, in his practice, still 
adhered to bleeding and purging. 

Three hundred and twenty years before Christ 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 281 

the Alexandrian library was formed, which had a 
happy effect upon the departments of medicine, 
anatomy and physiology. In this library there 
were 600,000 volumes or rolls which contained all 
the valuable information of previous ages. 

One hundred and thirty years after Christ, Galen 
was born in Pergamos, and 500 years after his 
birth, the Alexandrian library was burned by Ca- 
liph Omar. Galen had access to this library; he 
traveled much and wrote largely on subjects con- 
nected with medicine. He was an independent 
thinker and paid but little heed to what was then 
called authority. So great was his learning and 
wisdom that he obtained the reputation of " ora- 
cle." He thoroughly studied all the schools of 
medicine and philosophy, and then selected from 
all, except from the Epicurians, which he totally 
rejected. Galen determined to gather from the 
various sources all that was useful in the treatment 
of disease. He was, perhaps, the first " eclectic " 
in the practice of medicine. 

From the twelfth to the fifteenth centurv, the 
practice of medicine was again confined chiefly to 
the priests, who were men of learning and who be- 
came the principal physicians. 

About this time an attempt to investigation was 
made by a class of men who seemed to think that, 
while physical science was making some gigantic 
strides, there was no reason why medical science 



282 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

should be so comparatively slow, but a large major- 
ity believed that no progress was possible and hence, 
to shield their ignorance, they attacked every spe- 
cies of investigation in the most vehement manner, 
which in the least conflicted with their narrow and 
illiberal views 

In 1628, Harvey discovered the circulation of 
the blood, for which he was called the " circulator" 
in derision. He was deprived of the right to prac- 
tice medicine, and was threatened with banish- 
ment. He was finally compelled to leave his na- 
tive country, to escape the obloquy heaped upon 
him, and he finally died without seeing the bene- 
fits of his investigations. 

In 1638, the wife of an ex-king of Peru was per- 
suaded, while suffering with a malarial fever, to 
try the cinchona, and was afterwards restored to 
health. Ten years after, a Jesuit endeavored to 
introduce the Peruvian bark in Europe ; he was 
denounced as a quack, and the common people 
were persuaded to believe that the bark created 
disease instead of curing it 

PRESENT MEDICAL SCHOOLS. 

The different philosophies of ancient times have 
given rise to different theories, and hence in our 
times we have different medical schools, each of 
which base their practice upon the peculiar philos- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 283 

ophy they have adopted. It will not be out of 
place now to give a short description of the pecu- 
liar features of medical schools of the present day. 
Of these, we have the Allopathic, Homoeopathic, 
and Eclectic as the chief, while there are minor 
schools, as the Botanic, Hydropathic, etc., etc. 

THE ALLOPATHIC SCHOOL. 

This school of medicine comprises a large class 
of the physicians of the present day. They are 
known as "old school doctors," " mineral doctors," 
"calomel doctors," "allopaths," and "regulars." 
They are justly entitled to the term "old school." 
for their present treatment does not materially dif- 
fer from that of Hippocrates, who flourished twen- 
ty-two centuries ago. 

They base their practice upon the Latin maxim, 
Contraria Contrarius Curanter, which implies 
that disease must be cured by antagonism — that if 
a person have a disease, another disease should be 
set up in the system, contrary to the one already 
there, and in this way they attempt to modify dis- 
eased conditions. For this, they frequently gave 
calomel to salivate the system, and by this saliva- 
tion they expected to counteract the already exist- 
ing disease. Later years, many of this school have 
modified their views upon this subject, hence thev 
endeavor to avoid the force of their Latin motto. 



284 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Though at first they gloried in the name of Al- 
lopatha, many of them now despise the name, on 
account of the force of its meaning (Allopathic is 
from the Greek alios— other, and pathos— disease; 
other disease), and hence they choose to be known 
by the somewhat exclusive title of "regulars." 

While there is a modification in these respects, 
there is a disposition to adhere to the old land- 
marks, hence the philosophy remains the same; 
but their practice seems to be gradually leaving 
the old path. The Allopathic profession of to-day 
is not what it was forty years ago in many respects. 
A very large class of this school are in favor of 
progress and improvement, and in keeping up with 
the times, while others seem to think profession 
should be stereotyped into a general routine. 

This school gives medicine in sensible doses and 
pays but little attention to the taste. Their medi- 
cines for the most part are drastic and powerful, on 
which account much objection has been raised by 
the weak and delicate. 

BOTANICAL SCHOOL. 

It will be needless to say much concerning this 
system of practice, as it is almost extinct. The 
physicians of this school are known as "vegetable 
doctors," '• root doctors," " herb doctors," u Indian 
doctors," u steam doctors," " botanies," "Thomp- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 2S5 

sonians," and, later, " physiopaths." Dr Thomp- 
son started out with an utter disgust for the old 
methods of practice. He inveighed against the 
use of minerals, and chose the vegetable kingdom 
as his field for medicinal agents. Some good has 
been accomplished by Thompson and his followers, 
but the system never rose from its infancy. Thomp- 
son himself was quite illiterate, and the system was 
crude and could not bear the tests of sound phil- 
osophy. Its method of curing disease was by se- 
vere drenching, with hot and nauseating teas, made 
from the common roots and herbs. The system 
never became very popular, owing to its proscrip- 
tive principles and its severe method of treating 
disease. 

HOMCEOPATHIC SCHOOL. 

Owing much to the objectionable features in Al- 
lopathy, a new system arose upon a philosophy 
advocated by Hahneman, the Latin term of which 
is similia Similibus Curanter* by which they 
mean that medicines which produce upon the 
healthy subject 'certain diseased conditions, are 
also capable of curing similar diseases as they arise 
spontaneously. They claim that "the medicine sets 
up in the suffering part of the organization an arti- 
ficial, but somewhat stronger, disease, on account oi 
its great similarity and Dreponderating influence, 



286 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

takes the place of the former, and the organism 
from that time forth is affected only by the artifi- 
cial complaint. This, from the minute doses of 
medicine, soon subsides and leaves the patient al- 
together free from disease." 

A person in reading this might suppose that the 
differences between the above schools were but 
slight; but there is a vast difference and a 
great gulf between them. The Allopath would 
think it beneath his dignity to counsel with 
a Homoeopath, this the Homoeopath seems to 
care but little about, while he flatters himself to be 
the more successful of the two. 

The minute doses of medicine in the Homoeo- 
pathic practice are made by diluting or attenuat- 
ing their drugs in a systematic way so as to de- 
crease their potency in a geometrical manner. 
Their medicines do not differ from the Allopathic 
so much in kind as they do in amount and man- 
ner of preparing. They aim to please the palate, 
which is certainly a commendable feature, when it 
can be done without sacrificing the disease for the 
taste. For instance, where the Allopath would 
give ten grains of calomel, the Homoeopath would 
take but one grain of the drug, and to this he 
would add sugar of milk and make a hundred 
grains. He sometimes gives a millionth or a quin- 
tillionth part of a grain or drop. Here, then, is 
the great difference. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 287 

Their method of obtaining these minute closes 
consists in reducing the solid to a powder, and 
mixing one grain of it with ninety-nine grains of 
sugar of milk — this is called the first attenuation. 
The second attenuation is obtained by mixing one 
grain of the first with ninety-nine grains of sugar 
of milk; and the third by mixing one grain of the 
second with the same quantity of sugar of milk, as 
before. In this way Hahneman proceeded to the 
thirtieth attenuation. Water is the dilutent of the 
liquid medicines, and the attenuations are obtained 
in the same manner — that is, by mixing one drop 
of the mother tincture or liquid with ninety-nine 
drops of water, and in this manner continue the di- 
lutions up to thirty, as in the case of solid substances. 

These are called first, second and third potencies. 
Thus they continue, always taking one grain of the 
last trituration and mixing it with ninety-nine 
grains of sugar of milk, until they get up to the 
five- thousandth potency. The liquids or tinctures 
are treated in a similar manner, though drops are 
used instead of grains, and alcohol is used instead 
of sugar of milk. 

There is much difference of opinion among the 
homoeopaths in the use of their potencies. Some 
use the 1st, 2d and 3d potencies, while others prac- 
tice with their 30th, and others contend for the 
200th, while a fourth class declare better results in 
the use of the 500th. 



288 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

While some things in homoeopathy may appear ' 
quite vague and ethereal, as a general thing there 
is to be found quite a liberal and progressive spirit 
among them, hence they have a wide range of 
medicinal agents, and some of the late discoveries 
in medicine are due to the progressive spirit of 
homoeopathy. 

There is no denying the fact that too much 
strong medicine has been used in former days, and 
we should hail with delight that spirit which has 
for its object the improvement of medical science. 

ECLECTIC SCHOOL. 

We cannot describe this school any better than 
Dr. Younkin, of St. Louis, has. He says: 

" The Eclectics are becoming quite a popular 
class of medical practitioners. They have at this 
day a bright galaxy of scholars, philosophers and 
philanthropists, who are devoting themselves with 
zeal and industry worthy of all praise to the study 
and practice of medicine and surgery. Their col- 
leges of learning are becoming somewhat numer- 
ous, and their written volumes on the different 
branches of medical science adorn the libraries of 
almost all physicians of the different schools. 
Theirs is a science made up by an inductive system 
of reasoning. They have added to their store- 
house of knowledge, by an earnest study of all the 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 289 

various systems, and selecting such agents as have 
been proven good and useful in whatever school 
they could he found. In taking their survey, they 
saw much to be condemned and much to be com- 
mended in all the schools of medicine, hence they 
chose to found a new basis of medical practice in 
which should be incorporated the good of all 
schools, while the bad should be rejected. They 
belong to the progressive class, and claim that none 
should be so bound up in theories as not to receive 
truth wherever found, whether 

' In Christian lands, or on heathen grounds.' 

" They combine the sweetness of homoeopathy 
with all that is good in allopathy, hydropathy, or 
botanic practice, as well as many discoveries of 
their own. Their progress for the last fifteen 
years has been surprisingly great, so much so that 
even their old standard authors are claimed to be 
behind the times. Their present mode of treating 
disease is very nearly as pleasant as in homoeopa- 
thy, and they claim that the power of their agents 
will reach the disease more readily, and cure the 
patient in a much shorter time than either of the 
former schools. The per cent, or death-rate is 
claimed not to be as great as in the statistics of 
other schools. 

On account of the word Eclectic, some of the 
common people have thought that it had some- 
19 



290 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

thing to do with electricity, but this is not the 
case. They use electricity as they use any other 
agent, but they do not use it as their exclusive 
right. Eclectic means select. They aim to se- 
lect the best of all. 

The medicines they employ in the treatment of 
disease are such agents as will restore the healthy 
action of all the organs of the human body. They 
endeavor to avoid the violent and irritating drugs, 
believing they tend to produce disease and pros- 
trate the system. They seek to support the sys- 
tem and not depress it. They nourish their pa- 
tients instead of starving them. They aim to 
restore the healthy action of the liver, kidneys, 
stomach, and intestines, by assisting nature to 
throw off disease. 

Eclecticism has for its basis the laws of physiol- 
ogy and hygiene. It enjoins upon its practitioners 
a careful study of all the functions of the body, and 
teaches that disease is a departure from healthy 
action, produced either by " excess, defect or per- 
version." 

To relieve a patient from disease, they teach 
that the first thing is to know the symptoms, and 
their cause; secondly, to have a thorough knowl- 
edge of the effects of remedies, and just what drug 
is specially indicated in the individual case; the 
latter of which is obtained by a thorough study of 
all the materia medica taught by the different 
schools of medicine. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 291 

They use counter irritants, but they seldom blis- 
ter; they use opiates to relieve pain, but they do 
not depend upon them as means of cure; they use 
but few drugs that cannot be readily eliminated 
from the system. 

We have no doubt there has been more progress 
in medical science within the last ten years than 
within the last hundred. More especially has 
this been in the direction of furnishing to the 
world a purer article of medicine — fluid extracts, 
specific tinctures, resinoids, alcaloids, etc., the ac- 
tive principle from all medicinal substances — 
and with it has come to us a better knowledge of 
how to employ them than was ever known before. 
Therefore, it will be appropriate for us to note the 
fact, that in all domestic medical books for the use 
of families, the crude remedies, roots and herbs, 
prepared in decoctions, or teas, have been recom- 
mended, to which we have serious objections, which 
we will explain and make plain to our readers. 

Through the aid of chemical science, we have 
learned that the medicinal properties of a plant, 
which of course means any part of it which is to 
be used, depends entirely upon the time in the 
season — we mean the time in the year — when it is 
gathered, it is known by experience the healing 
properties are best. Then, again, the healing 
properties are subjected to the contingencies of the 
season. We will endeavor to illustrate our mean- 



292 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

ing. If, for instance, the best time for gath- 
ering a plant is in the month of September, then 
this statement is made in the sense that the season 
has been of the most favorable condition for pro- 
ducing the healthiest properties of the plant (for 
plants can be sickly, yon know), if the season has 
been more dry than usual, or more wet than com- 
mon, it will be perceived at a glance that the rem- 
edy gathered one year will be of an entirely differ- 
ent strength than the same remedy gathered in an- 
other year, or in a different locality, county and 
soil. Hence they cannot be made reliable if you 
should make them into decoctions or teas. There- 
fore, it has been the aim of our great modern chem- 
ists and observers and pioneers to give to the 
world a system of remedial agents that will be uni- 
form; that is, all manufacturers shall give to the 
world the solid or fluid extracts, specific tinctures, 
resinoids, and alcaloids all of equal strength, and 
at all times, which can be relied upon; if the dose 
of the remedy be ten drops to produce its medici- 
nal effect, it will be the same all over the world; 
also, that the same dose shall produce the medici- 
nal effect next year it did this year. Hence, our 
experience and our confidence has led us to rely 
upon the tinctures, fluid extracts, alcaloids, etc., 
etc., which the leading manufacturers in the United 
States have furnished. Our manufacturers of these 
botanical remedies have carried off the palm of ex- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 293 

cellence and superiority everywhere they have 
been placed in competition with the celebrated 
manufacturers of Europe at all the great interna- 
tional exhibitions of our day. 

These are the reasons why we have advised you 
all through our book to get your druggist to fill 
your prescriptions for you. Copy them off, or, 
better still, take your book to the druggist and show 
him which prescription you want filled, then you 
need fear no mistake. In this sense our book is 
new and its style entirely original. Therefore, we 
commend this reasoning to the common sense and 
good judgment of our readers. 

In the early days of medical progress in this 
country, the eminent Dr. Warren, who founded the 
first Allopathic college in the City of Boston, in one 
of his medical books, in the most beautiful lan- 
guage has paid the highest tribute to the Ec- 
lectic school of medicine that we ever heard. We 
feel our book would not be complete without giv- 
ing you some extracts taken from his book, which 
was published in 1858. He says : 

"There is a large and growing class of physi- 
cians, called at first, after the founder of the school, 
Thompsonian. Subsequently they were known as 
the Botanic physicians, and now pass under the 
title of Eclectics. These men, directing their at- 
tention at first chiefly to the Cayenne and the Lo- 
belia, have greatly extended their zealous researches 



294 OEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

over the vegetable kingdom, and have gathered 
much information worthy to be preserved. These 
researches have revealed a sadly neglected duty on 
the part of the old school practitioners, and in 1852 
drew from the Committee on Indigenous Medicinal 
Botany, appointed by the American Medical As- 
sociation, the confession that our practitioners gen- 
erally have been extremely ignorant of the medic- 
inal plants even in their own neighborhoods, and 
to this fact the committee attribute it that the Ec- 
lectic physicians had in many cases supplanted the 
Regulars in the confidence of the people. The ed- 
ucation and talent of this class of practitioners 
have gradually risen year by year, till at the present 
time they have several medical schools, where stu- 
dents are well instructed by men of real ability. 
The vast list of valuable remedies that these men 
have given to the world, drawn wholly from our 
own home plants, are a boon of no small value. I 
regard them as equal in value to all we were previ- 
ously in possession of. And yet it is very mor- 
tifying that the remedies which these men have 
given us are by hundreds of our old school practi- 
tioners not even known by name, and even where 
they are known, generally not honored with a 
trial. 'King's American Dispensatory,' a book of 
1,300 pages, in which these plants are well de- 
scribed, is almost unknown among us. Aside from 
a copy in my own library, 1 do not know that one 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. ZVO 

is owned by any other member of the Massachu- 
setts Medical Society. However learned a man 
may be, he is not fully equipped as a practitioner 
without his full acquaintance with this class of 
medicines. 

[We will add .that this valuable book, King's 
Dispensatory, is not owned nor known much about 
by one in a hundred old school practitioners, even 
at this late date, 1881.] 

" On the whole, I am disposed to regard all the 
operators and provers in the different departments 
of medicine as useful in a degree, no matter to 
what school they belong, or what class of men, ex- 
cept those mercenary quacks who lie about their 
remedies to make money. But all who are sincere 
and honest and believe what they teach, are aiding 
in some measure the general advancement of 
science. Although the truths, as they present them, 
are but fragmentary, they may prove useful in the 
hands of the true, liberal and progressive men who 
have chosen for themselves the name and title 
of Eclectics, which means all those men who 
have the wisdom as well as the independence to 
select the best things out of all systems of medi- 
cine. And that brings us to remark that the gen- 
eral conclusion must be there is but one truly lib- 
eral and philosophical school of medicine, and that 
is the Eclectic, composed of that class of thinking 
men who have liberality enough, as well as iiule- 



296 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

pendence, to reject all and every exclusive system 
of medicine, and receive out of all systems only 
those things which are approved by experience and 
reason. 



PROGRESS OF MEDICINE. 

There have been long periods when the science 
and art of healing made scarcely any progress; 
but now they are advancing, and in some depart- 
ments rapid. The chemistry in man — commonly 
called animal chemistry — has opened up many 
sources of light, which in the past were unknown. 
And but very few physicians have yet commenced 
the study of these very essential branches of medical 
science; but the delinquents are but sleeping in 
the rear of this rapid advance, and will soon awak- 
en to find themselves but the ghosts of a dead gen- 
eration. 

Liebig, a distinguished student in chemistry,. 
has made many very valuable discoveries to open 
the way for inquiry into this department. Simons, 
also, has perhaps done more. Mealhe is exploring 
still deeper, and has made many valuable discov- 
eries, of which the students of medicine will have 
these problems before their minds, bye and bye, 
and they will be compelled to act on them and 
govern their actions upon them as well — inquiries 
and propositions like the following : 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 297 

What are the chemical compositions of the 
solids and fluids of the human body? 

What is the nature of the changes which occur 
in the composition of the solids and fluids during 
disease? 

What alterations in the chemical compositions 
of the solids and fluids take place during the oper- 
ations of medicine before it can exert any remote 
action on the animal economy? 

A remedy must be absorbed, and before it can 
be absorbed, it must be soluble in the fluids of the 
human body. 

Medicines are subject to chemical changes dur- 
ing their passage through the system. 

These changes are regulated by ordinary chemi- 
cal law, and may, therefore, to some extent, be 
protected and made available in the cure of dis- 
ease. Then, again, those laws are disturbed and 
varied to some extent by the law of vitality; just 
as the needle is disturbed and made to vary by dis- 
turbing forces. 

What are those disturbances, and to what extent 
and under what circumstances do they occur? 
With these and similar inquiries and propositions 
before the intelligent physician's mind, diligently 
studied, the physician will learn, in time, to pre- 
scribe with some intelligent aim. 

He will not know everything, to be sure, but 
what he does know he will have a rational reason 
for knowing. 



298 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

If he gives a medicine with these facts before 
him, he will have in view the chemical changes of 
the solids and fluids of the body known to be dis- 
turbed by disease, which he is trying to combat. 

He will, at the same time, try and keep in mind 
the solution of medicine in the fluids of the body, 
as well as the chemical reactions between the com- 
ponent parts and the acids and alkalies, etc., found 
in the alimentary tubes and elsewhere. 

As the science of medicine advances and be- 
comes progressive in its march and eclectic in its 
character, gathering from all systems the best 
attested facts, and learning to use them to the ex- 
clusion of all systems of mere theories, and liberal 
sufficient to hold the present tacts in subordination 
to future experience, then, and not till then, will 
the medical profession be progressive. With such 
men as these, the science of medicine will ad- 
vance, and the light of to-morrow will then be 
modified by the light of to-day. Such men as 
these will everywhere be found knocking at the 
door for admission into some new department of 
Nature. 



NEED OF LIBERALITY. 

The medical profession, to be real physicians, 
must be free from bigotry; they must have no 
narrow prejudice against any man or class of men, 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 299 

be always ready to examine carefully and candidly 
any new remedy that is brought to their notice, 
no matter from what source it may come. They 
must not hedge themselves about with such re- 
strictive by-laws and society rules as are calculated 
to fetter their thoughts; that will turn their in- 
vestigations by a sort of moral necessity into 
the narrow T channels of mere party conservatism. 
Remember, he that is once inclosed by such 
restrictions must hew a path for his feet through 
bigotry and malevolence itself, before he can 
escape them, or be a free man in any noble 
sense. When the professors of the healing art 
can hoard medical knowledge as misers hoard gold, 
and can submit its purity to equally certain tests, 
then it will be time and appear in better taste for 
them to grow exclusive. Until then the most 
becoming badge they can wear would be that of 
the Christian adage, " Let each esteem others better 
than himself." Medical science with liberal by- 
laws, fitted to do a great deal of good, but it will 
be hard to show those with stringently restrictive 
rules operate otherwise than as a check upon prog- 
ress. In truth, they are apt to become mere cata- 
combs in which to embalm dead ideas of the past. 
They are liable to become the instruments for 
accomplishing the ambition of a few leading, nar- 
row, conservative men with brainless heads, who 
attempt to suppress everything of a progressive 



300 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

nature which should happen to be outside of their 
organization, and they beget a feeling that would 
forbid the fixed stars from sheading a drop of 
their light into our atmosphere, without first com- 
ing down and joining the solar system. 



CONSERVATIVE LEADEES. 

There is no influence which holds so steady a 
check upon medical progress as conservative lead- 
ers in many of our medical associations; not that 
they are opposed to any improvement in medical 
art, nor would they object to any amount of dis- 
covery if it would only come to the profession 
through channels which they have the honor of 
opening, but against all light from outside or from 
obscure sources they will draw down the curtain 
and close the doors; and if it should chance to get 
within their sacred inclosure, they will call it dark- 
ness, and the priests of the temple to atone for the 
indignity offered to the gods of medicine, and fill 
the whole sky with murky clouds from their altars. 
These men have strong faith in cast; therefore, in 
low places of society they look for nothing but 
ignorance and poverty, notwithstanding the light 
of every natural day breaks in the horizon and 
ascends. They so far despise analogies as to insist 
that all medical light breaks at what they call the 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 301 



zenith of the profession, and comes down. With 
them the temples of Esculapius are all rebuilt and 
they are the priests, and, therefore, to offer in sac- 
rifice the smallest part of a medical plant is sacri- 
lege, unless it is intrusted to their hands. These 
are the men who regard knowledge as a contraband 
article, unless regularly entered at the custom 
house, with bills of lading properly certified to by 
the conservative magnates at some other metropo- 
lis. With them knowledge is not like the west 
wind, fanning the brow of the peasant as gently 
as that of a king; not like the bright light of 
heaven, entering the small, clean window of the 
the hut as readily as the large one of the palace; 
not as a boon, which comes alike freely to all; and 
which is to be everywhere amplified, changed as 
circumstances and conditions require, and adapted 
to the present hour. We would not be unjust or 
severe, but we cannot but remark further, that 
these men present but one view to humanity — 
they are monotonous objects of inspection. Look 
at them a thousand times and you see but the same 
unaltered phase of life. 

And to the mariner on life's ocean, they are not 
safe lights to go by, for if he approaches them on 
the dark side they remain just as black as night, 
unless he should come around to their shining 
front. They are not revolving lights; they have 
lights, to be sure, and may be bright and genial, 



302 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

but it only gleams out upon the waters in one di- 
rection; it does not sweep around and throw its 
direct rays upon every mariner's path. Such men 
as these can only be useful to a few and a certain 
class. They have in them no true omniology; 
they are not all-teaching; their lives are not all- 
instructive, only to their friends, their clique, 
party, or school. They have length, but not 
breadth. They are citizens of Boston, New York, 
Philadelphia or Cincinnati; but not of the world. 



THE TRUE PHYSICIAN. 

How different the character of a true man or a 
physician. He has no dislikes or antipathies, and 
hates no man except bigots and tyrants. He ac- 
cepts knowledge although it comes from the hum- 
blest of sources; believes that there is no experience 
but that will repay a careful study of it. He be- 
lieves there is no husbandman's plowshare but will 
turn soil that is worth the analyzing. He belongs 
exclusively to no' party, and can be easily ap- 
proached by respectable men of every stamp, 
whether belonging to the same party, school, or 
society. You can easily take hold of his nature 
and draw it out without having it slip from your 
fingers and fly back from your presence into a 
thousand kinks, just like an over-twisted string. 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 6\)6 

He is a whole man. God made him for the whole 
w r orld and not for a party. But, by some strong 
influence you may draw him from the world for a 
time into some narrow sphere, but not only will 
his reluctant nature, like a returning tide, run back 
continuedly to embrace the continent, and, like a 
full sea, come back boiling and bubbling and run- 



WHAT WE WANT. 

In order that medical knowledge may increase 
its liberality in the true and full sense, we want 
true men in high places, who will not only let 
their own light shine everywhere, but will cease to 
hinder other light from shining. Beyond this, 
and of equal importance, we want the medical 
Gems of Knowledge diffused among the people; 
we want what the world has never seen before — a 
popular medical literature. We want the Temple 
of Esculapius pulled down and these conservative 
priests turned into the street and become teachers of 
the multitude, rather than the worshipers of the 
inner sanctuary. We do not think it necessary to 
confine knowledge, save in the ministers of relig- 
ion. Why should not the layman who follows his 
plow or shoves the plane, become eminent theolo- 
gians? And why should they not study the lower 
branches of science which relate to the body? They 



304 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

have never done it heretofore, because it has been 
purposely hidden from them under technicalities, 
when these covers should have been torn from them. 
And will be in the very near future, for when men 
and women are educated properly, as they should 
be and must be, how the physical temple will be 
built, and taught how they should take care of it 
as well, then the soul will need very little doctor- 
ing to save it. It is said those who begin to read 
upon medicine are very apt to imagine themselves 
afflicted with the various symptoms they find de- 
scribed. Well, to some extent, they may. But it 
is also true that the light they obtain by reading 
often relieves their minds of the apprehension 
which their previous ignorance allowed to prey up- 
on them, just as boys lose their fears of ghosts 
when the light of the coming morn changes their 
thoughts to some familiar object. But these con- 
servative physicians oppose the spread of medical 
knowledge; they fear their services will be less re- 
quired — I fear upon the grounds of self interest. 
They think their services will be less sought for. 

Now, we do not think of dispensing with the 
clergy because the people study theology; neither 
do we cease to employ teachers and practitioners of 
medicine when each man and woman will study 
the healing art. The principal change we shall 
witness in the future will be much larger attain- 
ments in knowledge among practitioners, just as 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 305 

ministers now know, and are obliged to know, ten 
times as much as they did in the dark ages of the 
past, when the people had no education and were 
obliged to receive their spiritual teaching from the 
mouths of these old fossils. The teachers of art or 
science are obliged to keep in advance of their pupils. 
Let the study of medicine become popular among the 
people, then we will have very few ignorant physi- 
cians. Quacks will then become one of the im- 
possibilities. The eclectic and the homoeopathic 
as well as all true physicians belie ve in scattering 
medical books among the people, stripped of their 
technicalities. 

Diffuse Gems of Knowledge, and you will find 
the people will purchase very few of the secret ad- 
vertised medicines, nor employ quacks as their 
family physicians. 



20 



PHILOSOPHY OF HUMAN 
MAGNETISM. 



This is a very common superstition among pop- 
ular medical men of all schools, that the intellectual 
phenomena of Magnetism (or Mesmerism) are the 
concomitants of hysterical states of the nervous 
system. Old-line doctors attempt to transcend the 
otherwise insurmountable difficulties of Somnam- 
bulism, or Clairvoyance, by the assumption of im- 
posture, or else by charging the mental manifesta- 
tion to nervous or cataleptic condition of body and 
brain. But it is generally believed the majority 
of those old-line physicians are pretty well sup- 
plied with ignorance concerning many of the most 
vital processes of the physical organization. 
Chemistry has recently enriched the physicians* 
understanding of physiological phenomena, but 
does not unravel to his mind the wondrous dynamic 
of the feelings and thinking principles which ani- 
mate and govern the perfect and beautiful organism 
of man and woman. The mental and spiritual 
phenomena of magnetism are yet new to most 
physicians, therefore we do not expect anything 
else from them than expressions of professional 

(306) 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 307 

prejudices emphasized by strong marks of dogmatic 
denunciations. But here and there we find a broad- 
hearted and knowledge-loving physician who is 
capable of putting a rational question with an 
honest incredulity, who is ever ready to exchange 
his learned errors for new truths — willing to make 
progress in scientific facts, and thus unfurl the 
union banner of free thought and unlimited invest- 
igation. But in this little explanation it can hardly 
be expected of us to construct an argument for the 
establishment of electro-magnetic science; we can 
scarcely believe that such an argument is demand- 
ed by the so-called scientists of the age, and yet 
we know that no class is more in the rear of ad- 
vanced discovery than the graduates of our insti- 
tutions of learning. Many of our best students 
in medicines are unable to solve the first principle 
of magnetic phenomena. They treat the facts as 
obviously incredible and impossible, and so permit 
themselves to be sufficiently logical to reject the 
facts, and sometimes uncivil enough to insult the 
hewers of wood and drawers of water, who have 
the audacity to present such phenomena for scien- 
tific examination. In fact, the churches and col- 
leges are both behind the essentials of knowledge 
and civilization. The unscientific people, the non- 
professional observers of nature, and the clear-eyed 
matronly nurse of the sick-room, are the uncon- 
scious champions of scientific progress. 



308 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

After these, like a loaded omnibus behind the 
laboring horses, come the respectable hosts of phy- 
sicians and clergymen riding and enjoying them- . 
selves luxuriantly in the cushioned chairs of our 
colleges and evangelical institutions. Millions 
upon millions of human beings, as well as creatures 
of the lower grade of animals, breathe the breath 
of life all unconscious of science, unmindful of the 
chemical knowledge which would explain the com- 
position of the atmosphere, and reveal the propor- 
tions of oxygen and nitrogen to the thoughtless 
multitude. So it is in every other respect. The 
people intuitively illustrate the essential facts of 
science for centuries in advance of the accurate 
knowledge of the schools. In Tinman magnetism 
this remark is emphatically true. The people with 
little or no education are familiar with its essential 
facts, and have practiced the principles of this 
science long eras before the colleges reflected a sin- 
gle ray of light upon the subject. In fact, the people 
without education are masters of realities and 
principles not yet dreamed of in brains of our 
teachers and professors. For, in truth, what is 
science ? Nothing more or less than systematic 
observation and orderly arrangement of natural 
facts and superficial causes which have for hun- 
dreds of centuries been common and familiar to 
some of the inhabitants of every country. It is, 
therefore, no disadvantage to any experience orphil- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 309 

osophy to say that it is not yet accepted and 
inculcated by talented men in higher places, because 
we know the knowledge of the colleges and the- 
ology of the churches are but reflections of facts 
and discoveries of past ages. 



THE SOUKCE OF MAGNETISM, 

Or, in other words, What is Magnetism ? We an- 
swer, it is animal vitality. We use the term 
Magnetism in its broadest sense, signifying the 
principle by which one object is enabled to attract, 
repel and influence another. The source of this 
grand principle is Soul. Crystals, various mineral 
bodies, plants, trees, fish, birds, animals, human 
beings, each and all are endowed with a soul, which 
is the mystic life of all boundless nature upwelling 
and overflowing from the inexhaustible fountain 
of the First Cause. All students who are intel- 
lectually acquainted with the harmonial philosophy 
will not confound u Soul and Spirit/' The term 
"Soul" is used here to signify that harmonious 
combination of the principle of motion, life and 
sensation, which moves, warms and perfects the 
physical organizations. Stones, trees, animals and 
men all contain this principle, but the latter in a 
higher degree of development, while in the former 
the principle is comparatively dormant. Each 



310 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

natural .body of matter is differently capacitated; 
hence supplied with a soul principle. The conse- 
quence of this difference is a magnetic polarity 
between one body and another throughout the en- 
tire domain of nature, and the consequence of this 
universal polarity is evolution and manifestation 
of all physical motions and mental phenomena 
known or unknown to science. 



FACTS ILLUSTRATIVE OF MAGNETIC 
POLABITY 

The common magnet, as every one knows, is at 
once positive and negative; that is, the life of the 
metallic body makes two manifestations at the same 
moment, and will attract a negative substance and 
repel that which is positive to it. The positive 
pole is charged with negative power, and the nega- 
tive pole with positive power. Thus the magnetic 
principle corresponds to these facts. For instance, 
the seed of a plant is negative to the magnetic ray 
or heat of the sun; consequently, the properties of 
the seed, if planted in good ground, leap up toward 
the sun as naturally as the needle points to the 
pole. This explains the growth of vegetation. 
Thus the near relationship of magnetism and 
electricity is demonstrated; they mutually attract 
and mutually repel each other. Look at the com- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 311 

mon electro-magnetic battery. If the electric 
current is permitted to traverse the coil of wire, it 
will convert the rod of iron placed in the center into 
a powerful magnet, and thus in its turn will set in 
motion a powerful current of electricity, as it were, 
by way of compensation. 

Now, the human body is constituted on the same 
system of polarities. Man is polarized from side 
to side, from end to end, from center to surface; 
his nervous system is a net-work of polarities, from 
his inmost organic centers to the glands of his 
brain, and from his brain centers to the extremities 
of every nerve; he is a perfect battery of mag- 
netic and electric potence. Hence, you can see 
how easy it is to understand how individuals can 
affect each other magnetically, and assist in estab- 
lishing a healthy equilibrium in the magnetical 
polarities of the human system ; tor the entire left 
side from the brain to the toes is negative; the 
left side emanations are, therefore, tranquil and 
attractive, while in the right side, which is posi- 
tive, are powerfully repellant. Hence, man repels, 
works and destroys with his right side, right arm, 
hand, leg, foot and brain, "while the corresponding 
parts and members of the left side and brain 
attract and subdue, and magnetize whatever he 
is adapted to affect. 

The right side of the brain is frequently unini- 
pressible, while the left side may be easily overcome 



312 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

and paralyzed by the magnetic principle of another 
mind. The right eye in a healthy person is the 
keenest and best, while the left eye is capable of 
more pleasnreable visions. Also, more susceptible 
for this reason: it more readily discerns the colors 
of a substance. The location, size, weight, and 
the distance of a body are sooner determined by 
the right eye. If any doubt this, go and experi- 
ment with your eyes and senses. Close your left 
eye and look at the leaf of a plant, then reverse 
the method, and you will soon see the ray of light 
emenating from the leaf which your right eye can- 
not discover. 

In like manner your left hand will detect heat 
in a substance that is cold to the right hand, 
and the reverse is equally true when frequently 
practiced with care and discrimination. For these 
reasons the right hand of man and woman are 
attractive to each other, while, at the same time, 
the hand of the same sex are mutually repel lant 
and unwholesome. Clairvoyants can detect the 
emanations of the different centers by the colors, 
which is natural to all polarized principles. Clair- 
voyants can see the magnetic emanations from 
human bodies when they are in this illuminated 
state, and such sensitive persons are often repelled 
away from gross positive minds, and shun them as 
we would a viper, and our professors of science 
call such delicate natures weak-minded persons, 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 313 

when the fact is just the reverse. Such minds 
always have far more intellectual power than 
the former. 

The wonderful complex nervous system of man 
is a complete helix; a coil of wire which communi- 
cates electricity to the brain, which is the magnet, 
or central power of the organization, and the com- 
pensating process as with the electro- battery, goes 
on in the shape of centrifugal currents of real nerve 
life (a finer electricity), which the brain discharges 
through the pneumogastric sympathetic nerves to 
all parts of the temple. So, in accord with the 
magnetic law, we come now to observe that the 
brain and body of the operator becomes one over- 
mastering, positive power, to which, without re- 
sistance, the diseased patient surrenders to the pos- 
itive healthy magnetism of the operator. Thus 
the complete blending of the magnetic spheres of 
the twain, the disease in the patient naturally sur- 
renders itself to the healthy body of the operator. 
Thus, you see, it is only a question of time, either 
long or short, which must, of necessity, equalize the 
magnetic soul principle, and both become healthy 
alike. This magnetic law lies at the foundation of 
all the so-called Spiritual Phenomena, wherein, to 
the observer, it seems the spirit or mind of the 
medium has vacated its temple in order to give 
a foreign intelligence an opportunity of manifest- 
ing itself. 



314 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

MAGNETISM AS A MEDICINE. 

Having briefly sketched the action and effects of 
the magnetic principle, it will now be more expe- 
dient to conclude our remarks in behalf of the sick 
and suffering. The human body, in its normal 
and healthy condition, is endowed with every req- 
uisite power. But by ignorant and negligent 
treatment the natural vital forces lose their just 
equilibrium, and the effects and consequences are 
soon visible in material prostration, in severe pain, 
or in silent and insensible decomposition. What 
physicians term " nervous influence " is really 
nothing but the magnetic and electric life of the 
interior soul. Animals, including man, have these 
magnetic endowments; and the principle of vital 
action, in both the human and animal kingdom, 
are exactly and universally identical. A loss of 
vital action is nothing but a loss of balance between 
inherent forces, which are positive and negative, 
magnetic or electric; and yet we do not hold that 
the currents generated by the metallic, or mineral 
battery, can ever be made to act as a substitute, be- 
cause the principles of Soul-Life are as much finer 
than atmospheric electricity as the latter is finer 
and more delicate than the gross and turbulant 
waters of our lakes. 

The Therapeutic influence of magnetism may 
be exerted in various ways, differing in every case, 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 315 

with temperaments and the nature of the disease; 
but we cannot stop now to specify any method. 
We will say, however, that to practice Magnetic 
Healing successfully, you must have the will to do 
good; a firm faith in your power, and an active 
confidence in employing it. Magnetism is a use- 
ful, spiritualizing, sublime agent of vital energy 
and health. In fact, it is the all-pervading sym- 
pathy which connects us with the absolute condi- 
tion and suffering of our fellow-men. However, we 
prescribe different remedies merely as palliatives 
and aids as final redemption from disease, and from 
the fear of death, but the radical remedy is still 
within your own individual organization. We 
have now given you the general principles of the 
magnetic medicine treasured up in the organs and 
brain-centers of your own individuality. An in- 
flammation is a positive condition of an organ or 
part; therefore, apply your positive hand and will 
to it. Why? Because two positives repel, and 
your hand being a healthy positive, will surely 
scatter the inflammation, which is an unhealty 
positive, and thus establish the natural equilibrium. 
Your brain, for instance, is loaded with blood; not 
SO, your mental magnet is surcharged and over- 
stocked with vital currents which should be en- 
gaged in other parts of your economy — and thus 
the dependent blood is floated off. 80 our doctors 
will bleed an apoplextic patient. This method is 



316 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

absurd. No man's system ever generates more 
blood than it needs for its own private use. But it 
is possible, nay, easy for the magnetic potencies to 
be thrown out of balance, giving rise to co-ordinate 
symptoms of excess in one place, and deficiency in 
another; the remedy, in all cases, being the same, 
viz.: A restoration of the magnetic equilibrium be- 
tween foot and brain, stomach and liver, heart and 
lungs, between spleen and kidneys, and the inevita- 
ble consequences will be perfect health. 



DR. H. S. TANNER'S FORTY 
DAYS' FAST. 



We feel that our book would not be complete at 
this late day of discovery and scientific achieve- 
ments, without giving you a true history of the 
wonderful fast of forty days, thirteen of which were 
passed without drink, We glean the following 
facts from some of the leading medical journals of 
the day: The Doctor having been criticized for 
honest assertion of a former fast of forty-two days, 
by Dr. Hammond, of New York, and others of like 
belief and persuasion, he took up a temporary resi- 
dence in New York City, under the charge of the 
United States Medical College for the purpose of 
convincing the most skeptical the entire possibility 
of a man existing forty days without food. 

Notwithstanding the Doctor had to brave all 
former theorizers and the bulwark of "old hunker 
medicine," he assiduously pursued his attempt, un- 
der the most trying ordeal and adverse circum- 
stances, to a successful termination, and on Satur- 
day, August 7, 1880, lie completed his fast, the 
greatest that has ever been authoratively recorded 
— notwithstanding Dr. Hammond and Dr. Clen- 

(317) 



318 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

denin, Health Officer, Dr. Miles, and many others 
of the most brilliant shinning stars of the Allo- 
pathic school said it could not be done, and pro- 
nounced Dr. Tanner a humbug and a fraud. 

But long before the Doctor had completed his 
forty days' fast in New York, the public, generally, 
was satisfied that he was honestly attempting to 
carry out what he had undertaken. And those 
of the profession who at first claimed a fast of for- 
ty days impossible, gradually began to change 
front, and affirm that such facts were not new, that 
many well-authenticated cases were on record, and 
they had proved of no benefit to science. After 
which came the prediction of the knowing ones, 
that Dr. Tanner would suffer greatly and probably 
die as soon as he began to take nourishment, for 
such had been the result of all cases of starvation, 
and the Doctor could not be an exception to the 
general rule. 

Dr. Tanner always held that fasts of this kind 
were possible, and one of his objects in undertak- 
ing so trying an ordeal was to prove that it could 
be done. Many cases of fasting have been reported, 
but they were -rarely believed, for the reason no 
positive evidence of such could be furnished, except 
that given by the faster. Dr. Tanner, however, 
accomplished his task under the most rigid system 
of scrutiny, with the eyes of the whole world upon 
him. Thus giving positive proof of the possibility 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 319 

of a protracted fast. Therefore, when we have 
demonstrated that medical authorities are in error 
regarding the length of time life may be prolonged 
without food, we are brought face to face with 
some of the errors we are guilty of in our daily 
visits to patients, it matters little what the disease 
may be; we have been disposed to urge the taking 
of food to sustain life, even if our patient protested 
against it. This has especially been the custom of 
the profession, during the last decade, since the 
supporting and nourishing system of practice 
came into use. But now it has become a question 
whether food thus taken when the system did not 
demand it, had any effect in sustaining life, 
whether nature is not the best guide after all as to 
the necessity for food being taken into the 
stomach. 

And now, that it has been demonstrated a per- 
son can go ten, twenty, or even forty days without 
food, then it is our duty to cure the disease by 
cutting short the irritation, by forcing food upon 
the stomach when it does not require it. If we 
have an inflamed eye, we give it rest, and it is rap- 
idly restored. Therefore, the same treatment 
adopted for disease of the digestive organs must 
necessarily be followed by equally good results; 
Dr. Tanner has taught the world that we can ab- 
stain from food for a comparatively long period of 
time without bad results. 



320 GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Again, leading authorities have taught us that 
after long abstinence from food the digestive or- 
gans are so impared that food must be given in 
very minute quantities. This practice is adopted 
in all cases of starvation, and it is a fact that nearly 
all such patients die. Dr. Tanner has shown that 
long abstinence does not impair digestion, but that 
large quantities of nourishment can be taken with 
impunity. Therefore, a change in this direction 
promises good results, and should be considered 
one of the lessons of the fast. 

It also demonstrates that even rectal feeding 
does not sustain life, as has been claimed; but 
rather that other forces of the body not only keep 
the patient alive, but also counteract the bad effects 
of this false method of supposed feeding. 

The most important fact proven by this is the won- 
derful power of mind over matter, as we have tried 
to explain to you (see article on Magnetism). This 
fact has demonstrated to science clearly that the 
human mind is dependent upon some force outside 
the physical brain. Thus, to our mind, it has only 
added another link to the chain of evidence we al- 
ready have, that the mind or spirit, or whatever 
you w r ish to call it, does control the body and does 
live after the body is worn out, and laid away to 
mingle with the rubbish of the graveyard. 

In fact, there are so many points which present 
themselves for our consideration in this great les- 



GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. 321 

son of the Doctor's fast and feast, that we can do 
little at present but turn the facts to practical use, 
and mark out a course for future study, since, after 
the fast came the feast, when it seems that Dr. 
Tanner knew the powers of his stomach better than 
the medical savants, and at once began to partake 
of large quantities of food from a generous bill of 
fare, and in four days he gained twenty-four 
pounds in weight; and on the 31st day of August, 
just twenty-six days after he completed his fast, he 
had regained his usual weight and strength, and 
was as well and hearty as ever. 
21 



INDEX. 



PAGE. 

Abortion 48 

A word about babies 70 

Asthma _ _ 150 

Accidents and emergencies 196 

Bilious cramp colic ... 131 

Broken bones and dislocations... 198 

BATHS _ 211 

Alcohol sweat bath 215 

Turkish bath 216 

Medicated bath.. 216 

Sulphur fume bath 217 

How to bathe the baby 218 

Footbath 219 

Hip, or sitz bath 219 

Courtship and marriage 82 

Cause and cure of female weakness 50 

Cessation of the menses 65 

CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT... 70 

Convulsions 87 

Cholera infantum -- 84 

Croup 77 

Cramps in the pit of the stomach 132 

Cholera morbus 128 

Catarrh 144 

Catalepsy 174 

Chronic rheumatism -. 180 

Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation). 61 

Dropsy - 93 

Diabetes... 101 

(322) 



INDEX. 323 

PAGE. 

Diptheria 116 

Dysentery, or bloody flux 124 

Diarrhoea 126 

Dyspepsia _ 160 

Dr. Barrington's Home Turkish Bath _ 212 

Dr. H. S. Tanner's fast 317 

Ealing 22 

Earache 88 

Erysipelas (St. Anthony's Fire) 120 

Epilepsy 170 

Food and drink for the sick _. 16 

Fevers 133 

Gravel 105 

Gonorrhoea .._ 192 

General remarks 273 

How to nurse the sick 9 

Home medicine chest. _ 29 

HEMORRHAGE (Bleeding, and how to stop it) _. 206 

Bleeding from the nose 207 

Above the ear _. 208 

Below the eyes _ 208 

From wound in the arm. 208 

From the leg or foot 209 

From the stomach „ 209 

From the lungs. _ _ 210 

HOW TO PREPARE POULTICES 261 

Bread __ __ 261 

Mustard _ ._ 263 

Potato poultice 263 

How to make fomentation _ 264 

Hygiene 276 

History and origin of medicine - 279 

Infectious diseases 111 

Intermittent fever 139 

Kidney disease _•_ 97 

Lung life ; or, Physiological facts 24 



324 INDEX. 

PAGE. 

List of Homoeopathic remedies 268 

Liver complaint 90 

Motherhood . 41 

Medicines for a happy home 30 

Maxims 66 

Measles 81 

Neuralgia _ ___ 155 

Process of digestion _ 27 

Purifying ordeal of the blood 28 

Pregnancy... _ 44 

Parturition 47 

Pneumonia _ 141 

Paralysis _ 166 

Poison vine, poison oak _ 199 

POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES 256 

Arsenic _ 256 

Copper.. 25T 

Phosphorus 258 

Lead 258 

Iron 25b 

Strychnia „ __„ 259 

Opium 259 

Other poisonous plants or seeds 260 

Philosophy of human magnetism 306 

Room for the sick 14 

RECEIPTS FOR COOKING.- - IT 

Beef tea 17 

Extract of beef 17 

Chicken jelly 18 

Barley water 18 

Rice water " 18 

Arrowroot jelly 19 

Barley jelly _ „ 19 

Oat meal gruel. 19 

Corn meal gruel 19 

Oat meal water , 20 



INDEX. 325 

PAGE. 

Buttermilk pap _ 20 

Wine whey 20 

Orange whey_ _ 20 

Vegetable soup _ 21 

Elm bark jelly ___ _ 21 

Flax seed lemonade or cough syrup 21 

Milk punch 22 

Rules to be observed 131 

Rules to administer medicine.. 265 

RECIPES, ETC 220 

Constipation of the bowels 220 

Dr. Barrington's restorative compound _ 221 

Cough syrups .. 223 

Balsam for weak lungs 223 

Coughs from colds, with sore lungs 224 

Dysentery— Bloody flux _ _ 225 

Loss of appetite 227 

Excess of vomiting . 228 

Earache . 228 

Inaction of the kidneys 229 

Summer diarrhea in little children 230 

Catarrh of the bladder _._ 231 

Tonic for disease of the kidneys 232 

For common bilious condition 233 

Malarial affections 233 

Bone felons, carbuncles and boils 234 

How to prevent a felon 235 

Diphtheria _ 235 

For rickety children 237 

Piles, hemorrhoids 244 

Catarrh snuff 243 

Cramps in the stomach, bowels or diaphoretic 

powder 243 

Rheumatism 230-042 

Erysipelas 237 

Rheumatic gout 289 

Blood Purifier 14S 



326 INDEX. 

PAGE. 

Chapped hands or lips 239 

Convulsions in little children 240 

Painful menstruation 241 

Profuse menstruation 241 

Nursing sore mouth „ 246 

Sprains - _ 247 

Nipple wash 247 

Ringworm and tetter 248 

Healing salve _ _ 248 

Kidneys, receipt for _ 249 

Enlargement of the spleen 249 

Valuable tooth-wash 250 

Scurvy -.„. 250 

Sure cure for bunions or frost bites 250 

Miscellaneous.-..- 251 

Toothache.. 251 

Magnetic lotion for the body 252 

Magnetic liniment for rheumatism or stiff joints. ... 253 

Poison oak or ivy. ._ 254 

For itch. 255 

Suppression of monthly period __ 63 

Small pox 113 

Scarlet fever _ 136 

Sick headache _ 157 

Sore eyes 165 

St. Vitus' dance— Chorea , 176 

Spermatorrhea — Masturbation 184 

Spider bites 200 

Snakebites _. 201 

Sunstroke 203 

Teething 73 

Worms _ - 85 

Whooping-cough 79 

Wounds --. 198 



